Visfatin was recently reported as an adipokine and was found to exert insulin-mimicking effects.The results showed that the expression of visfatin parallelled with obesity and insulin resistance in long term high fat chow-fed rats.The expression of visfatin mRNA was decreased and the insulin resistance improved after rennin-angiotensin system was blocked.Visfatin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.

Objective: To compare blood levels of NT-proBNP and uric acid (UA) in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A prospective research was conducted in 288 acute dyspnea patients treated in our hospital from 2010-06 to 2015-05. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on clinical diagnosis: PTE group,n=107 and CHF group, n=181. Blood levels of NT-proBNP and UA were examined in all patients, statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0 software, independent samplet test or variance analysis were used to make comparison between 2 groups. Results: There were more male patients as 64/107 (59.8%) in PTE group and 103/181 (56.9%) in CHF group. Compared with CHF group, PTE group had the lower blood levels of NT-proBNP (2421.7±1678.1) pg/ml vs (6964.3±3873.1) pg/ml and UA (340.6±121.3) μmol/L vs (492.1±166.2) μmol/L, allP<0.01. Conclusion: In our research, blood levels of NT-proBNP and UA were lower in PTE patients than CHF patients; with general background, such phenomenon might be helpful to distinguish PTE and CHF in acute dyspnea patients in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the induction effect of NPPB,a chloride channel blocker,on the apoptosis of human glioma SHG-44 cells,and to explore its mechanism. Methods:The SHG-44 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and NPPB groups (50,100,200 μmol· L-1 ).The cell viability was detected by MTT assay.The apoptotic rates were detected by flow cytometry.The expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting method.Results:Compared with control group,the cell viabilities of SHG-44 cells in 100 and 200 μmol·L-1 NPPB groups after treated for 24 and 48 h were decreased significantly (P < 0.01).The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rates of SHG-44 cells in 100 and 200 μmol·L-1 NPPB groups were 24.64% and 41.85%,and they were higher than that in control group (4.17%) (P <0. 01).The immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting results showed that the expression levels of caspase-3 and Bax proteins in SHG-44 cells in 100 μmol · L-1 NPPB group were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0. 01 ), and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was decreased (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion:NPPB could induce the apoptosis of human glioma SHG-44 cells by the down-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of the expression of Bax,and the activation of caspase-3.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Teratoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology

In recent years, more and more attention was payed to the study of andrographolide. Andrographolide has the extensive pharmacological actions, such as anti-tumor, dephlogisticate and antibiosis and anti-virus. It was dected that andrographolide had the action of anti-tumor in gastric cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. The anti-tumor mechanism of andrographolide was versatile, for instance, andrographolide can induce the apoptosis of cancer cell, inhibit the cell cycle, and increase the antitumor activity of lymphocyte. The following review was about the recent progress of study on the anti-tumor mechanism of andrographolide.
Andrographis ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between essential elements of Chinese medicine syndrome (EECMS) and the lung function in patients with acute aggravating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AACOPD).

METHODSAdopting clinical epidemiological method, the Chinese medicine syndrome of 199 AACOPD patients with various grades of the lung function was differentiated, and EECMS in them were picked up, summarized and analyzed statistically.

RESULTSAlong with the deteriorating of the lung ventilation, the EECMS of disease-position was progressed correspondingly, i.e. in patients with lung function of grade I, disease was positioned mainly on Fei (88.89%); in patients of grade II, on Fei-Shen (25.97%), Fei-Pi (9.09%), and Fei-Gan (3.90%); in those of grade III, on Fei-Shen (51.32%), Fei-Pi (7.89%), Fei-Pi-Shen (19.74%), and Fei-Pi-Shen-Xin (2.63%); in those of grade IV: on Fei-Shen (56.76%), Fei-Pi-Shen (27.03%). The EECMS of disease-property was also progressed, that for excessive syndromes were disposed as: grade I - II, phlegm (23.76%); grade III: phlegm-heat (30.26%), phlegm-stasis (15.79%), and phlegm-retention (9.21%); grade IV: phlegm-stasis (24.32%), phlegm-heat-stasis (29.73%), phlegm-retention-stasis (2.70%); and for deficiency syndromes were arranged as qi-deficiency --> qi-yin deficiency --> qi-yang deficiency --> qi-yin-yang deficiency.

CONCLUSIONThe lung function could be taken as the objective and quantitative index for the progression of Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with AACOPD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Yin-Yang

Photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Angelica dahurica were studied in order to clarity the relations of photosynthesis, growth and root dry weight, and provide a theoretical basis for its cultivation. Photosynthesis and growth indexes were meas- ured every 25 days. The contents of chlorophyll a, b, a + b, soluble protein and the activities of Hill reaction, Ca(2+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase had an increasing trend; They had the highest value in leaf high-speed growth period. Then, they were decreased in root high- speed growth period. The root dry weight showed negative corelation with photosynthetic characteristics indexes except stomatal con- ductance, however, the negative corelation only from net photosynthetic rate and Ca(2+)-ATPase were significant. The vegetative growth period of spring sowing A. dahuricia was divided into three phases: seedling period, leaf high-speed growth period and root high-speed growth period. The root dry weight showed a significantly positive corelation with the root diameter, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, aboveground dry weight. There was the competitive relation between aboveground and underground, so underground growth could be es- timated from leaf area and shoot dimeter.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Angelica ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Seasons

Acute cerebral infarction(ACI)has the characteristics of onset nasty and high mortality,and thus the rapid determination of the occurrence and development of ACI plays a key role in the diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of ACI patients.It has shown that the serum level of human haptoglobin(Hp)is related to ACI.In this study,surface enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)combined with immune recognition was applied to establish a quantitative analysis method for serum Hp.Firstly,the SERS substrate of silver nanoparticles was prepared on silicon wafer,and 4-mercaptobenzoic Acid(MBA)was used as a Raman probe by forming Ag—S bond and connecting it on the surface of nanoparticles.The carboxyl group of MBA was linked to amino group of self-made high-affinity antibody through forming CO—NH structure thus forming a SERS self-assembled chip of Hp(Ag/MBA/anti-Hp).Hp in serum could be specifically captured by antibodies on SERS substrate,which caused the shift of SERS characteristic peak of MBA.The results showed that there was a good linear relationship between the logarithm of Hp concentration and the SERS characteristic peak shift of MBA.The detection range was 1-1000 ng/mL(R2=0.988).The Hp concentrations in serum of 90 ACI patients were determined by this method,and the results were consistent with those of ELISA method,which proved the practicability and accuracy of this method.This method was highly specific,simple and convenient,which could realize the specific recognition and quantitative analysis of serum Hp,so as to be an effective means for clinical detection of serum Hp,thus providing a reference for the treatment and prognosis of ACI.

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE : To study the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of bear bile powder (BBP) in Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill (STDP) , and to provide scientific evidence for treating atherosclerosis (AS) by its therapeutic characteristics of cool resuscitation.

METHODSAS model was duplicated using ApoE-/- gene knocked mice fed with high-fat diet. Thirty ApoE-/- deficient male mice were divided into four groups according to body weight using random digit table, i.e., the model group (A, n =9), the STDP group (B, n=E7), the STDP without BBP group (C, n =7), and the BBP group (D, n =9). Besides, another 9 C57BL/6J male mice of the same age were recruited as a normal control group (E). All mice in Group B, C, and D were respectively administered with corresponding drugs (30, 30, and 0. 33 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to mice in Group A and E. All medication lasted for 8 successive weeks. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α), interferon y (IFNγ), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were measured by ELISA. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined using biochemical assay. Contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the aortic root was detected by dihydroethidum (DHE) fluorescent probe. Expression levels of microRNAs (such as miR-20, miR-21, miR-126, and miR-155) were detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe fluorescence intensity of the aorta was obviously enhanced in Group A. But it was obviously attenuated in Group B, C, and D, and the attenuation was the most in Group B. Compared with Group E, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, oxLDL, and MDA all increased (P <0. 01), GSH contents and SOD activities decreased (P <0. 01), expression levels of miR-126, miR-21, and miR-155 in aorta increased (P <0. 01), and the expression level of miR-20 decreased in Group A (P<0. 01). Compared with Group A, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, oxLDL, and MDA were all down-regulated (P <0. 01), GSH contents and SOD activities were up-regulated (P <0. 01), expression levels of miR-126, miR-21, and miR-155 in aorta were down-regulated in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01). The expression level of miR20 was up-regulated in Group B and D (P <0. 01). Compared with Group B, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ increased (P <0.01); GSH contents and SOD activities decreased, levels of MDA and oxLDL increased (P <0. 01) in Group C and D. Expression levels of miR-20 and miR-155 were down-regulated in Group C and D (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONSSTDP played roles in significantly regulating inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors. Its mechanism might be possibly associated with regulating expressions of miR-126, miR-21, miR-155, and miR-20 in aorta. BBP played significant roles in STDP.

Animals ; Aorta ; Apolipoproteins E ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; Bile ; Cytokines ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; drug therapy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Ursidae

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on gait time cycle of ischemic stroke between yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique (yin-yang needling) and the conventional acupuncture.

METHODSSixty cases of ischemic stroke were randomized into a conventional acupuncture group and a yin-yang needling group, 30 cases in each one. The basic treatment (the control of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid, the intravenous drops of ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection and vinpocetine injection) were applied in the two groups. Additionally, in the conventional acupuncture group, the acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming [Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39), etc.] were selected and stimulated with the even needling technique. In the yin-yang needling group, the acupoints of yin meridians such as Zuwuli (LR 10), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. and the acupoints of yang meridians such as Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected. The reducing manipulation of respiratory reinforcing and reducing technique was applied to the acupoints of yin meridians and the reinforcing manipulation was applied to the acupoints of yang meridians. The kinematics time parameters were determined and compared before and 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the differences in the gait cycle, the phase time of standing (%), the phase time of single support (%), the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot and phase time of double support (%) were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P < 0.05), in which, the gait cycle (1.75 +/- 0.21 vs 2.02 +/- 0.37), the phase time of standing (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(65.41 +/- 5.20)% vs (68.37 +/- 6.24)%, (70.99 +/- 6.47)% vs (74.51 +/- 5.19)%], the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(36.08 +/- 4.86)% vs (33.65 +/- 2.94)%, (31.04 +/- 3.41)% vs (26.77 +/- 2.67)%] and the phase time of double support (%) [(36.91 +/- 5.10)% vs (41.22 +/- 5.39)%] in the yin-yang needling group were improved much obviously after treatment as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group. The differences in support phase time (%), single support phase time (%) and sway phase time (%) were significant between the affected limb and healthy limb of the two groups after treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique effectively improves hemiplegic gait movement cycle and walking function in patients of ischemic stroke, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Aged ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Time Factors ; Yin-Yang