Hyperlipidemia is a major factor causing coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a major indicator for measuring lipid levels. However, there is no an effective medicine that can obviously increase HDL-C at present. According to previous laboratory studies, atractylodes macrocephalae extracts could significantly increase HDL-C level. In this study, the metabolic hyperlipidemia rat model was established by feeding high-sugar and fat diets and alcohol-drinking to explore the effect and mechanism of atractylodes macrocephalae extracts on hyperlipidemia rats. According to the findingins, different doses of atractylodes macrocephalae extracts could reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, ACAT and increase the contents of LCAT, HDL-C. Particularly, the atractylodes macrocephalae extracts (100 mg · kg(-1) group showed increase in HDL-C by about 50% and significant declines in HMG-CoA reductase, TC, TG. In conclusion, Atractylodes Macrocephelae Rhizoma extracts could effectively regulate the dyslipidemia of hyperlipidemia rats, especially on HDL-C. Its mechanism may be related to reduction in cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in livers and increase in lipid metabolism and transport by regulating LCAT and ACAT levels.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of composite factors, like long-term high-salt & fat diet and alcohol abuse on blood viscosity and blood pressure in rats, and compare with a model induced by high molecular dextran, in order to build a chronic hyperviscosity aminal model which is similar to human hyperviscosity in clinic and lay a foundation for efficacy evaluation on traditional Chinese medicines.

METHODMale SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the high molecular dextran (HMD) group and the high salt & fat and alcohol (HSFA) group. The HMD group was given normal diet and water for 23 day and then 10% HMD through tail vein for 5 days. The HSFA group was fed with high salt and high fat diets every day and alcohol for 20 h x d(-1) for 13 weeks. After the modeling, whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were measured in the 5th, 8th and 11th week. Blood pressure was measured in the 5d, 7h, and 10th week. Red cell count (RBC) and hematocrit (HCT) were measured in the 11th week. PAgT, Fb, ET-1, NO, PGI, TXA2 contents of the normal group and the HSFA group were measured in the 13th week, and IECa21 content was measured with flow cytometry. Result: After the modeling, the HMD group was in good conditions with glossy hairs and active behaviors. The HSFA group was depressed with withered hairs and less activities. During the 5th-11th weeks, the HMD group and the HSFA group showed higher values in high and low shear whole blood viscosity (WBV) than the normal control group. The plasma viscosity (PV) of HMD rats was significantly increased only in the 5th week, and that of HSFA rats significantly increased in the 8"' and 11th week, particularly in the 11'h week. In the 111h week, the HSFA group showed significant increases in RBC and HCT. After the modeling, the blood pressure of HMD rats showed no significant changes, but the blood pressure of HSFA rats significantly increased during 7' and 101h weeks, particularly in the 10"' week. In the 13th week, PAgT, IECa2+, Fb, ET-1 of HSFA rats significantly increased, but with decreases in NO and PGI2.

CONCLUSIONLong-term high salt & fat and alcohol diets can cause abnormal blood viscosity in rats. WBV significantly increased since the 5th week in rats, and PV increased since the 8th week. The mechanism for increasing BV may be: (1) increases in RBC, HCT, and IECa2+, (2) PAgT increase, (3) Fb content increase, or (4) TXA2/PGI2, ET-1/NO imbalance. Although the modeling time with the method is longer than that with the HMD method, the model is more stable and moderate, and could lead to abnormal increases in WBV and PV; Whereas the HMD method only induced transient increase in plasma viscosity and abnormal increase in SBP. The model is more similar to traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and pathogenesis, with higher value for studies on efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines.

Alcoholism ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Viscosity ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; adverse effects ; metabolism

Objective To explore the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in diffuse thyroid disease.Methods The elastic modulus were detected by SWE in 41cases of diffuse thyroid disease [including 16 cases of Graves' disease (GD),16 cases of Hashimoto' s thyroiditis (HT) and 9 cases of subacute thyroiditis(SAT)] and 30 cases of healthy volunteers.The elastic modulus,including Emean,Emin and Emax,were measured and compared.Results Compared with the normal group[Emean(15.7-± 2.5)kPa,Emin(11.6 ± 2.4)kPa and Emax (20.2 ± 3.0)kPa],the Emean[(20.4 ± 4.7)kPa],Emin[(14.4-± 3.8)kPa] and Emax [(27.8 ± 7.3)kPa] of GD,the Emean [(18.4-± 5.0)kPa] and Emax [(25.2 ± 5.8)kPa] of HT,and the Emean[(11.0 ± 2.9)kPa] and Emin [(6.0 ± 2.7)kPa] of the SAT were different significantly(P =0.001,0.007,0.001 ; P =0.045,0.001 ; P =0.000,0.000).There were significant differences between the SAT and the other two groups,namely GD and HT (P ＜0.05).Such differences,however,were not found between GD and HT (P ＞0.05).Conclusions SWE can be used to measure the elastic modulus of the thyroid tissue quantitatively and objectively,serving as a useful technique to predict the diffuse thyroid disease.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) level and abdominal obesity or metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods A total of 875 subjects,with 350 males and 525 females,aged 40-65 years old,were enrolled in this study.The clinical and biochemical data were collected and MRI was used to assess the visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues.The relationships between UA level and abdominal obesity or MS were analyzed,and the cut-off values of UA for abdominal obesity and MS were determined.Results Raised risks of abdominal obesity (OR =4.35,95％ CI 1.91-9.90 in males; OR =5.44,95％ CI 2.41-12.31 in females) and MS (OR =4.47,95 ％ CI 2.08-9.62 in males; OR =11.62,95％ CI 3.43-39.37 in females) were observed with the increase of UA level.The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that UA was an independent risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia (OR =2.23,95％ CI 1.02-4.87 in males ; OR =3.04,95％ CI 1.49-6.23 in females) in all subjects and for abdominal obesity(OR =3.23,95％ CI 1.32-7.91) and hypertension (OR =2.35,95％ CI 1.37-4.05)in the females.Among the females,the regression line analyzed by simple correlation indicated that the UA level of 244.0 μmol/L was corresponded to the visceral adipose tissue area of 80 cm2.The optimal cut-off point of UA for the diagnosis of MS was 258.8 μmol/L determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve.Conclusions The level of UA is closely correlated with abdominal obesity and MS in the middleaged Chinese.The elevated UA level is an independent risk factor for abdominal obesity and MS in the female.

Purpose To investigate the relationship of infundibular bladder neck formation with pelvic floor support structure injury and urethral sphincter defect and its significance in female stress urinary incontinence.Materials and Methods The pelvic floor images of seventy-four female patients with stress urinary incontinence treated in the outpatient Department of Lanzhou University Second Hospital from April 2015 to August 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.The location of the bladder neck,posterior vesicourethral angle and the infundibular bladder neck formation were observed by the transperineal ultrasound under the resting state and the maximum Valsalva status.Meanwhile the thickness of middle urethral sphincter was measured under resting state.At the same time,eighty-one women visiting our hospital for regular physical examination were enrolled as control group.Results The infundibular urinary bladder neck formation rate (66.2％) in the stress urinary incontinence group was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.9％) under maximum Valsalva state,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The extent of the bladder neck descending and posterior vesicourethral angle in the stress urinary incontinence group were notably higher than those in the control group,both of the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Stress urinary incontinence was confirmed with urethral sphincter defect by urodynamics in nine patients,in whom the infundibular bladder neck occurred.The thickness of the middle urethral sphincter in these nine patients showed no obvious difference with that in patients without sphincter defect and subjects in normal control group (P＞0.05).Conclusion The infundibular bladder neck formation,which is closely related to the pelvic floor support structure dysfunction and urethral sphincter defect,is an important indication of stress urinary incontinence.However,the assessment of urethral sphincter defect through urethral sphincter thickness need to be further studied.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the shear-wave elasticity (SWE) imaging technology on the quantitative diagnosis of chronic nephrosis stage.Methods Sixty patients with nephrosis (nephrosis group) were evaluated with SWE and the renal function test.The Young's modulus value and the renal function were measured,and the results were compared with those of twenty healthy subjects (control group).Results Twenty cases of healthy control group were definited as R0.Sixty patients of nephrosis group were divided into four groups according to renal function:R1-R4.The Young's modulus of the nephrosis group was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜0.01).There were also statistically significant differences among each stage of the nephrosis group (except R1 and R2 of nephrosis group)(P ＜ 0.01).According the ROC curve,the cut-off value of the Young's modulus was 5.53 kPa when maximum area under the curve equal to 0.886,the sensitivity and specificity were 81.70％ and 80.40％.The Young's modulus value and renal function were positively correlated with the stage of nephrosis.The areas under the ROC curves for the Young's modulus,urea nitrogen and csytatin C were 0.965,0.950,0.965 for ≥R3,0.978,0.912,0.961 for =R4,respectively.Conclusions SWE imaging technology provided a new quantitative index for the stage of nephrosis through quantizing the elasticity of the tissue.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of total flavones from Artemisia anomala (TFAS) on activation of macrophages, cell oxidative stress, auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD, platelet aggregation and isolated vascular tension.

METHODLPS and IFN-gamma induced activation of macrophages and oxidative stress in rats; H2O2 and nitrite induced auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD; ADP, AA and collagen induced platelet aggregation in vitro in mice; PE stimulates isolated vascular tension; nitrite content of macrophages was measured by Griess assay; MTT assay and FRAP assay was applied for cell viability and total cell antioxidant capacity; auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD was measured by Western blot and colorimetric methods; platelet aggregation was detected by turbidimetry; and aorta ring relaxation was recorded by isolated vascular function experience devices for rats.

RESULTTFAS demonstrated dose dependence (25, 50, 100, 200 mg x L(-1)) on inhibiting induced macrophages NO production from generating, while increasing cell viability and total anti-oxidant capacity. Auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD was suppressed by TFAS in dose dependence (0.5, 5, 50 mg x L(-1)). TFAS showed an inhibitory effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation at 50 mg x L(-1) and an endothelium-dependent relaxation effect on PE-induced vasoconstriction at 1 g x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONTFAS shows effect on anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-nitration, anti-platelet aggregation and vasodilatation in experiment in vitro, which may inhibit vascular inflammatory by regulating multiple target points. It is among material bases for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Aorta ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiology ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

AIM:To investigate the effects of Akt1 gene transfection into myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) on mitochondrial permeability transition. METHODS:Forty adult male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups with 8 rats each:control group,I/R group,Ad-gene group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The rats in Ad-gene group were injected with 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 solution including Akt1 gene to the myocardium 48 h before ischemia while those in control group and I/R group were injected with PBS of the same volume. Rats in Ad-blank group were injected with Lipofectamine 2000 of the same volume into myocardium. In Ad-inhibitor group 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 and gene complexes with LY294002 were injected. Hemodynamics,apoptotic index,the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase,creatine kinase,the expression of Akt1,cytosolic,mitochondrial cytochrome C and MPT were also measured. RESULTS:The lowest level of Akt1 protein expression was observed in control group. The protein expression of Akt1 in Ad-gene group was higher than that in I/R group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The AI,LDH and CK in Ad-gene group were significantly lower than those in other groups except control group. Transfection of Akt1 markedly reduced the loss of mitochondrial cytochome C after I/R injury. Ad-gene transfection led to a significant increase in absorbance at 540 nm compared to I/R group,Ad - black group and Ad-inhibitor group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Akt1 gene prevents myocardial apoptosis after I/R injury. Akt1 gene also inhibits the opening of mitochondria permeability transition and protects mitochondrial functions of myocardium in I/R injury.

Objective To quantitatively detect circulating DNA levels in the plasma of patients withcervical lesion and to determine the value for diagnosis of cervical lesion and cervical cancer . Methods Preoperative blood samples were collected from 53 cases of low-grade lesions, 49 cases of high-grade lesions, 44 cases of cervical invasive cancer and 70 cases of healthy women. Plasma DNA was extracted by magnetic bead method (BILATEST DNA kit). The quantity of plasma DNA was determined by duplex real-time quantitative PCR. Results Median plasma DNA level of invasive cervical cancer patients was 61. 59 mg/L (32. 06 - 162. 16 mg/L) , which was significantly higher than that of healthy women [16. 35 mg/L(11. 98 -22.71 mg/L), P < 0.01]. Among invasive cervical cancer patients, median plasma DNA level of squamous carcinoma patients was slightly higher than that of adenocarcinoma (50. 43 versus 47. 31 mg/L,P>0. 05). Median plasma DNA level of stage I patients was lower than that of stage Ⅱ- Ⅲ patients (46. 02 versus 71. 35 mg/L, P <0. 05). Conclusion Quantitatively detecting plasma circulating DNA may be with some application prospect in the diagnosis of cervical diseases.

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of theophylline in relieving airway symptoms and inflammation in patients with mild asthma.

METHODSFifty-six patients with mild asthma were randomly divided into treatment group (n=41) receiving oral theophylline at daily dose of 4 to 6 mg/kg for 16 weeks and control group (15 cases) without medication other than beta2 antagonist, which was administered when necessary in both groups. Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+)) and pulmonary function (PEF(am) and PD(20)) before and at 8 and 16 weeks during treatment were measured.

RESULTSSignificant difference was observed in CD3+ and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte subsets after medication with theophylline (P<0.05) in the patients, and PEF(am) and PD(20) were also significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05). Theophylline significantly improved the clinical symptom scores (P<0.05) and decreased the asthma attacks.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose oral theophylline may significantly relieving airway inflammation in patients with mild asthma.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Function Tests ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology ; Theophylline ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome