Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) is a derivative of effective component of a Chinese material medica, Houttuynia cordata, which is applied in anti-infection of microorganism. But, the antimicrobial mechanisms of SH still remain unclear. Here, we firstly discovered that SH effectively inhibits the three types of virulence related motility of.Pseudomonas aeruginosa, i.e., swimming, twitching and swarming. The plate assay results showed that the inhibitory action of SH against swimming and twitching in 24 h and swarming in 48 h is dose-dependent; and bacteria nearly lost all of the motile activities under the concentration of 1 x minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (512 mg x L(-1) same as azithromycin positive group (1 x MIC, 16 mg x L(-1)). Furthermore, we found that the expression of structural gene flgB and pilG is down-regulated by SH, which implies that inhibitory mechanism of SH against motility of P. aeruginosa may be due to the inhibition of flagella and pili bioformation of P. aeruginosa by SR Therefore, our presented results firstly demonstrate that SH effectively inhibits the motility activities of P. aeruginosa, and suggest that SH could be a promising antipseudomonas agents in clinic.
Alkanes ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fimbriae, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; cytology ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Sulfites ; pharmacology ; Virulence ; drug effects

Objective To introduce a new technique for urethral coverage in Snodgrass hypospadias repair,and to evaluate its effectiveness and complications.Methods From April 2003 to February 2006, this new procedure was performed in 289 children with hypospadias aged 3 months to 12 years (mean age,2. 4 years).The native meatus of urethra was identified subcoronal in 78 cases,penile/shaft in 136,penoscrotal in 36 and scrotal in 16;and 23 cases had undergoneⅡstage operation and re-operation.The overlapping coverage with bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle was done in the new urethra by Snodgrass hy- pospadias repair in these children.Results All the cases were followed for 3 months to 2 years.Postoper- atively,urinary fistulas developed in 32 cases (11%).Of them,11 were cured spontaneously within 4 weeks. The incidence of actual urinary fistula was 7% (21/289).Of the 21 fistulas which were not cured,11 (5%) occurred in 214 cases of distal hypospadias;and 10 (13%) in 75 cases of proximal hypospadias,Ⅱstage and re-operation.No dehiscence and diverticulum was found.Combined with mucosal collar technique,the ventral skin of the penis was sewn on the midline.During the follow-up,excellent cosmetic results with normal-ap- pearing circumcised penis were achieved in most patients.Conclusions Bilateral shaft based vascularized dartos pedicle urethral coverage procedure is a reliable and effective method for preventing urethral cutaneous fistulas and dehiscence.This method can reconstruct a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the penis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of Compound Salvia injection (CSI) on nitrate ester tolerance.

METHODSEighty-four patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) were randomly divided into three groups, Group A treated with isosorbide dinitrate (ISD, 15 mg, 4 times per day) alone, Group B with ISD plus CSI and Group C with ISD plus vitamin C. The therapeutic course for all groups was 10 days. The tolerance to nitrate ester and blood pressure were monitored. Before and after treatment, the color Doppler ultrasonic apparatus was used to detect the baseline value of humeral arterial internal diameters (D0), the humeral arterial dilatory response under compression [D1, that is, the flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD)] and the vasodilatory response after sucking of nitroglycerin (D2). And the blood levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression were determined. The endothelial-dependent vasodilation (EDD) was expressed by (D1 - D0)/D0 x 100%, and the endothelial-independent vasodilation (EID) was expressed by (D2 - D0)/D0 x 100%.

RESULTS(1) The occurrence rate of nitrate tolerance in Group B and C (28.57% and 35.7%) was lower than that in Group A (64.29%), but insignificant difference was found between the former two. (2) After treatment, blood pressure increased in Group A to the level of pre-treatment, that in Group C also increased but still lower than that of pre-treatment, while insignificant increase was observed in Group B, comparison between Group B and C showed significant difference (P < 0.05). (3) After treatment, EID lowered in Group A, EDD increased in Group B and C (P < 0.05), EDD and EID in Group B and C were higher than those in Group A (P < 0.05), and EDD was higher in Group B than in Group C (P < 0.05). (4) After treatment, ET-1 mRNA expression lowered in Group B, eNOS mRNA expression increased in Group B and C, with significant difference as compared with those before treatment and those in Group A (P < 0.05), and eNOS mRNA expression in Group C was lower than that in Group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCSI could partially prevent the occurrence of tolerance to nitrate ester, with the effect better than vitamin C, the mechanism might be related with its regulation on eNOS, ET-1 mRNA expression and protection on vascular endothelial function.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Drug Resistance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endothelin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Isosorbide Dinitrate ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore a method of extracting tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) which is similar to muddy phlegm in Chinese medicine (CM), interleukin-8 (IL-8) in concentration was taken as the representative of the content of TIF, analyzed in the extracted TIF and the original tumor tissue, and examined to see whether TIF has an interfering effect on tumor recurrence.

METHODSTumor tissue was ground, centrifuged, and filtered for intercellular substances. Tumor-bearing Kunming S180 mice were raised for 21 days and then the tumors were removed to observe the influence of intervention with TIF, normal saline (NS) and a blank control on tumor recurrence.

RESULTSThe content of IL-8 in the filtered and unfiltered tumor tissue was not significantly different (P>0.05). Postoperative tumor recurrence in TIF intervention group was significantly higher than that in the NS intervention and control groups (60%, 12/20 vs. 20%, 4/20. vs. 15%, 3/20, χ(2) =11.058, P<0.01). Tumor cells grew vigorously and infiltrated to muscular tissue in TIF intervention group. Large numbers of tumor cells were seen necrotic in the NS intervention group, and small numbers of tumor cells were seen necrotic in the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONSTIF can be effectively extracted by the means described. It does not contain tumor cells, but its contents such as IL-8 may stimulate tumor cell growth and promote postoperative tumor recurrence, which provided preliminary experimental basis for hypothesis of "tumor-phlegm microenvironment".

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Fluid ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; Mice ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety between cryoablation (Cryo) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation for treating patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

METHODSPatients with AVNRT (n = 304) were divided into Cryo group (n = 67) and RF group (n = 237). The procedure success rate, complete slow pathway block rate, atrioventricular block rate and relapse rate were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere was no statistically difference between 2 groups in the success rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 97.0%, P = 0.820), complete slow pathway block rate (Cryo group 98.5% vs RF group 91.6%, P = 0.088), atrioventricular block rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 2.5%, P = 0.413), relapse rate (Cryo group 0 vs RF group 1.7%, P = 0.643). But Cryo group had more advantage than RF group.

CONCLUSIONEfficacy and safety were comparable between cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation for treating patients with AVNRT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Child ; Cryosurgery ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of knockdown of miR-449a on breast cancer xenograft in nude mice.Methods In this study,we established a model of breast cancer xenograft in nude mice with breast cancer MCF-7 cell line,then stably transfected MCF-7 cells with plasmids containing shRNA-miR-449a precursors;the stable transfected cells were injected subcutaneously into the nude mice by multi-point injection.We used negative plasmid as negative control and PBS as blank control.We detected tumor volume after the treatment of nude mice and tumor growth inhibition rate was calculated.The expressions of miR-449a and Notch1 in xenograft in nude mice were detected by real-time PCR;the levels of Notch 1,β-catenin and E-cadherin in the xenograft tumor tissues were detected by Western blot; and the expression of E-cadherin in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results In the process of xenograft tumor formation,no nude mice died.Knockdown of miR-449a could significantly inhibit the growth of tumor volume after tumor detection (P <0.05 ).miR-449a was significantly down-regulated in xenograft tumor tissues,and the expressions of Notch 1 and β-catenin were also down-regulated,while the level of E-cadherin was increased.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of Notch1 protein was decreased and that of E-cadherin protein was increased (P <0.05).Conclusion Knockdown of miR-449a inhibited the normal growth of breast cancer xenografts in nude mice by down-regulating the expressions of Notch 1 andβ-catenin and promoting the expression of E-cadherin.

Aim To investigate the effects of polysac-charides from Ginkgo biloba on the proliferation, apop-tosis of mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells and the possible mechanism. Methods 4T1 cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba of different concentrations. The effect of poly-saccharides from Ginkgo biloba on inhibition of prolif-eration and cytotoxicity of 4T1 cells was determined by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay respective-ly. The apoptotic effect of polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba on 4T1 cells was detected by DAPI staining. qRT-PCR experiments were carried out for the detec-tion of gene expressions of the glucose transporter fami-ly upon the treatment with the polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba. Results Polysaccharides from either Ginkgo biloba leaf or Ginkgo biloba exocarp significant-ly inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Moreover, with the increasing doses of polysaccharides, cell viability decreased, ac-companied by the increased cell cytotoxicity and apop-tosis. qRT-PCR results showed that polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba significantly reduced glucose trans-porter 1 gene expression. Conclusions Polysaccha-rides from Ginkgo biloba can both inhibit 4T1 cell pro-liferation and induce cell apoptosis, and by regulating glucose transporter family gene expression, it interfered with cell energy metabolism, which infers that the effects of cell proliferation inhibition as well the apopto-sis induction might be due to the regulation of glucose transporter family gene expression.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the validity of intraoperative magnetic MEP (motor evoked potentials) monitoring in a spinal-cord-menaced surgery.

METHODS32 rabbits were employed in weight-drop spinal cord contusion model. After anesthetized with a combination of Ketamine and Droperidol the spinal cords were surgically exposed with the dura intact, and the contusion injuries were delivered except the rabbits in control group. The MEPs were recorded and the relationship between the variation of the MEPs and the residual locomotor capacity after spinal cord injury was analyzed.

RESULTSThe 6 rabbits in mild-spinal-cord-injury group experienced transient attenuation of their TMS-MEPs, and the locomotor capacity remained intact (scores of 5) in almost all rabbits (5 of 6) when assessed 24 hours later; In the moderate-spinal-cord-injury group the 8 rabbits lost their TMS-MEP immediately after the weight-drop contusion, but they regained them partly in 1 hour one after another and scored 4 or 5 in the assessment of muscle power next day except for one score of 2; 8 rabbits had their spinal cords impaired severely in the contusion procedure and lost their TMS-MEP too but without recovery, their locomotor capacity outcomes were very poor, 5 of them had no response to transcranial magnetic stimulation next day, and in the other 3 rabbits we only found some polyphase waves with variant latency and lower amplitude which did not resemble common compound muscle action potential (CMAPs) evoked by TMS.

CONCLUSIONSMyogenic TMS-MEPs was very sensitive to the spinal cord injury and should be a valid technique for intraoperative monitoring, and a slight change of them, even if a transient lose, should be unnecessarily related to a severe movement disorder. The warning threshold for a given patient should depend on the malady itself.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Prognosis ; Rabbits ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate some currently used surgical approaches to the correction of congenital penile curvature.

METHODSSeventy-six patients with congenital penile curvature underwent surgical correction, of whom 67 were accompanied with hypospadias, 5 with epispadias and 4 with normal urethral meatus. The methods for straightening the phallus included 5-week preoperative hCG treatment, complete degloving of penile skin, release of periurethral fibrous bands extending proximally to the meatus, plication of dorsal or ventral tunica albuginea, and embedding of dermis and tunica vaginalis grafts.

RESULTSAll the cases were followed up for 2 months to 2 years, and the mean follow-up time was 9.3 months. Satisfactory phallus straightening was achieved in 67 cases (88%), mild residual chordee remained in 6 (8%), which needed no reoperation for the time being unless warranted by follow-up, and relapse occurred in 3 (4%), which needed further operation.

CONCLUSIONMost cases of congenital penile curvature can be corrected sufficiently with the above methods.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Urogenital Abnormalities ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods