Dipeptides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; End Stage Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Male

Objective To explore the operative main points and clinical effects of LC treatment for acute calculous cholecystitis. Methods Between August 2006 and June 2008, LC treatment for acute calculous cholecystitis in 120 cases as performed, the data of which were analyzed retrospectively. Of these patients, there were gallbladder with adherent omentum (72 cases), gallbladder with adherent hepatic flexture of the colon (9 cases), gallbladder with duodenum (5 cases), obstruction of the cystic duet by a gllstone (68 cases), and Mirizzi syndrome(2 cases). Results All the 120 cases performed LC successfully. There were no converting to open operation, and no biliary leakage. The mean operating time was (45. 0 ± 13. 1) minutes. Conclusions Acute calculous cholecystitis was not a contraindication for LC. Rich experience and skilled technique were key points for the success of operation. It shows advantages of less pain, less complications and more rapid recovery.

In recent years, non-viral gene vectors have attracted great attention for efficient gene delivery due to the advantages, including low toxicity, low immunogenicity and simple preparation. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is one of the typical non-viral gene carriers that have been widely utilized for gene delivery owing to its superior capabilities in gene compression and buffering capacity. This article discusses the processes of gene delivery and the barriers of PEI-based carrier during the gene delivery, such as low biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, lack of specific targeting and insufficient gene release, etc. Therefore, we summarize the multiple approaches for the modifications of PEI in terms of improved biocompatibility, degradability, specific targeting and buffering capacity. Furthermore, we also review on the recent impressive progresses of smart stimuli-responsive PEI carriers, including endogenous stimuli (pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, biomolecular, etc), exogenous stimuli (light, temperature, magnetic field, etc) and dual-responsive strategies, which might provide guidance for the development of more efficient and safer non-viral gene vectors.

Objective To explore the role of ERK1/2 protein in development of myocardial hypertrophy.Methods Myocardial cells were isolated from ventricles of 1～3-day-old neonate rats and purifed by a culture method.Neonate rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophic responses were assayed by measuring protein content,protein synthesis rate and cell surface area.Expression of protein ERK1/2 were detected by Western blot.Results Cell protein content,~3H-leucine(~3 H-Leu)incorporation and cell surface area increased by treating of cardiomyocytes with T(10~(-10)～10~(-6) mol/L)for 24 h.The maxium effect was observed at the concentration of 10~(-8) mol/L.The increase of cell protein content induced by T was inhibited by pretreating with flutamide(10~(-5) mol/L)for 2 h,while there was no effect on cardiomyocytes pretreating with flutamide alone.The increase of ~3H-Leu incorporation induced by T was blocked by PD98059(50 μmol/L).Expression of ERK1/2 was upregulated significantly by treating with testoster one for 24 h at the level of 10~(-8) mol/L.The increased expression of ERK1/2 induced by T was reversed by pretreating with flutamide(10~(-5) mol/L)for 2 h.Conclusion T with physio-concentration may induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and this effect was possibly mediated through the activation of ERK1/2 signalling.During this procession,T upregulated the protein expression of ERK1/2 mediated by androgen receptor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of antihypertensive medication timing on degree and stability of blood pressure (BP) lowering in patients with moderate and severe essential hypertension.

METHODSNinety patients were randomly assigned to take Valsartan and Felodiping together in the morning (group A), Valsartan in the morning and Felodiping in the evening (group B) or Felodiping in the morning and Valsartan in the evening (group C, n = 30 each). The morning dosage was titrated if the goal blood pressure was not achieved. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed on the first and 14(th) day of medication.

RESULTSThe BP reductions during nighttime and twenty-four in group B and C hours were similar (P > 0.05) but were significant more than those in group A (P < 0.05). The smoothness indexes of mean systolic, mean arterial blood pressure during nighttime and twenty-four in group B and C were similar but significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05). The smoothness index of diastolic pressure at nighttime in group B and C was similar but significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMore significant and stable antihypertensive effects could be achieved by taking the two antihypertensive medications separately in the morning and at evening compared that taken the two drugs together in the morning.

Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Felodipine ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; Valine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo explore ginseng fermentation process by Lactobacillus plantarum, and to make part of total saponins transformed into more reactive ginsenoside Rd.

METHODMicrobial fermentation was carried out by still dark culture. Total saponins were extracted by Soxhlet extraction, and determined by UV visible spectrophotometry with colours reaction by vanillin-sulfuric acid. Ginsenoside Rd was determined by HPLC method.

RESULTThe fermentation process was: MRS medium, 35 degrees C, pH 5.0, cultured for 2 days. The content of total saponins was inhance 32%, and the content of ginsenoside Rd was increased 4.864 mg x g(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe fermentation system's process was reasonable, and it's suitable for mass production, important significance for ginsenoside microbial transformation.

Biotransformation ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactobacillus plantarum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo investigate characteristics of pulmonary stem cells labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in lung tissue, as well as the effects of proliferation and differentiation of the stem cells on lung development and repair of pulmonary injury.

METHODSA model of hyperoxia in neonatal rats was made by exposing the rats to 95% O2 for 7 d. Before sacrificing the rats, Brdu was injected through peritoneum, and immune staining positive cells were analyzed after the rats were sacrificed. TERT positive cells were stained by an immunohistochemical method. At the same time, the double staining for surfactant protein C (SPC) and Brdu or SPC and TERT were performed. Lung histologic study was done on HE stained tissue slices.

RESULTS(1) The lung with hyperoxic injury had thinner walls of alveoli, simple alveolar structure, fewer and larger alveoli, expanded and shrunken alveoli, and there were many fell-off alveolar epithelial cells in the alveolar cavities as well. (2) The cells positively stained with Brdu located in septa, mucosa and submucosa of various bronchi, scattering in epithelium of bronchi, and the number of positive cells was low, having a large nucleus. The TERT-positive cells were apparent in the septa and alveolar walls of peripheral lung tissue, characterized by uneven distribution in the lung lobes, the number of positive cells was less than that of Brdu-positive cells [integral of expression (1.61 +/- 0.83) vs. (0.62 +/- 0.55), P < 0.05]. The number of Brdu- and TERT-positive cells had no significant difference in hyperoxic rats compared to that in controls [integral of expression (1.43 +/- 0.85) vs. (1.61 +/- 0.83); (0.62 +/- 0.55) vs. (0.83 +/- 0.84), P > 0.05]. (3) After double staining, a few positive cells were found in double-stained tissues with SPC and Brdu or TERT. (4) The cells positively stained with SPC antibody had different size. The percentage of positive cells was not significantly different between the hyperoxia group (80.3%) and control group (78.6%). The Brdu positive staining located in nucleus of cells that had larger size than the cells not stained, round nucleus with intense staining (seldom, pole-shaped) and the number of such cells was less than that of the SPC positive cells. The percentage of positive cells was not significantly different between the hyperoxia group (28.5%) and control group (21.4%). (5) The TERT staining located in nucleus of cell that had smaller size than the cells not stained, various nuclear shape, including round intensively stained, round slightly stained, pole-shaped and divided shape. The percentage of positive cells was not significantly different between the hyperoxia group (2.3%) and control group (1.5%).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Brdu and TERT, as markers of stem cells having different capability of differentiation, possess special characteristics, respectively. The cells with Brdu could be transit amplifying cell (TAC) which retains characteristics of stem cells originated from differentiated stem cells, while, the cells stained with TERT especially reflects the characteristics of stem cells. (2) The proliferation and differentiation of pulmonary stem cells during hypoxic lung injury are limited and may be related with arrest of alveolization.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hyperoxia ; complications ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Telomerase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of the fibrin scaffold on the differentiation and the proliferation of neural stem cells and astrocytes. Methods Neural stem cells and the gliocytes derived from spinal cord were cultured in vitro respectively. The purified neural stem cells or gliocytes were seeded separately onto the fibrin scaffolds as experimental group and the glass slides modified with poly-L-lysine(PLL)as control group. At different time in culture the neural stem cells were immunofluorescence stained with antibodies against the marker of neurons I.e. Neurofilament(NF).The length of NF-positive neuritis was masured and the average value was calculated in the culture well (n=4). The gliocytes were immunofluorescence stained with antibodies against the marker of astrocytes I.e. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP ). The total number of the cells and the GFAP-positive cells were counted from 5 different fields of vision in the culture well (n=4), then the average ratio of GFAP-positive cells was calculated. The differentiation of neural stem cells, the extension of neurites and the proliferation of astrocytes on the fibrin scaffolds were compared with those on the slides. The protein of GFAP was detected by Western blotting to analyse the mature degree of astrocytes. All above experiments were repeated 3 times respectively. Results Immunofluorescence staining showed that the NF-positive neurites in the fibrin scaffold group were longer than those in the control group, whereas GFAP-positive cells were fewer than those in the control group. The expression of GFAP in the cells on the scaffold was lower than that in the control group.Conclusion The fibrin scaffold could promote differentiation of the neural stem cells to neurons and extension of the neurites. Meanwhile, the scaffold could inhibit proliferation and mature of the astrocytes.

Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism ; Pressure Ulcer ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; blood supply

OBJECTIVETo assess the intervention of Biantong Huangqi Ointment (BHO) combined with Western medicine (WM) on the recurrence of bronchial asthma (BA).

METHODSEighty-four BA children patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (43 cases) and the control group (41 cases). During the period of onset, patients in the two groups were treated by WM alone. During the remission phase, patients in the treatment group took BHO, one dose daily, while those in the control group were treated with atomized inhalation of Budesonide and Salbutamol (0.5 mL each time for those 3 -8 years old; 0.75 mL each time for >or=those 8-12 years old). The therapeutic course for them all was 1 month. The serum levels of IgG and IgE before and after treatment, 6 and 12 months after withdrawal of medication were detected in the two groups, and the recurrence rate of BA observed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe recurrence rate of the treatment group was obviously lower than that of the control group after withdrawal of medication (9.5% vs 24.4% for 6 months, 14.0% vs 34.1% for 12 months), showing statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The serum IgG level of children patients in the treatment group increased continuously after medication. The high serum IgE level state obtained long-term and effective relief.

CONCLUSIONBHO showed favorable anti-recurrent effect on children's BA. Its mechanism might be associated with regulating children's immune system.

Asthma ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Ointments ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome