Objective To investigate the chemopreventive potential of salvianolic acid B against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene(DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis with respect to angiogenesis. Methods(Sixty) male Syrian golden hamsters were randomly divided into 4 groups(group A and B,n=20;group C and D,(n=10).) DMBA solution(0.5% in acetone) was applied topically to the right cheek pouch of male Syrian golden hamsters in group A and B,while animals in group C were painted with acetone,3 times a week for 6 weeks.Animals in group D received neither DMBA nor acetone in the first 6 weeks.Two days after the last treatment of(DMBA,) animals in group B and D received salvianolic acid B daily(10 mg/kg) by gavage,while animals in group A and C received same volume of saline,for the next 12 weeks.At the end of the experiment,animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Results Salvianolic acid B significantly decreased the incidence of squamous carcinoma(P

Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma levels of soluble receptor of advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac function in patients with sepsis.
Methods: A total of 83 sepsis patients treated in our hospital from 2014-01 to 2015-06 were studied. Plasma levels of sRAGE, BNP were examined at 24 h after admission and they were evaluated by APACHEII scores. According to BNP levels, the patients were divided into 2 groups:Normal cardiac function group, the patients with BNP<500 pg/ml, n=32 and Cardiac dysfunction group, the patients with BNP≥500 pg/ml, n=51. The cardiac function as stroke volume (SV), LVEF, minute volume, E/A were examined by echocardiography. The above indexes were analyzed and compared between 2 groups, the relationship between plasma levels of sRAGE and the occurrence of sepsis was assessed by Logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with Normal cardiac function group, the patients in Cardiac dysfunction group presented decreased SV, LVEF, minute volume and E/A;increased APACHEII scores and sRAGE, all P<0.01. Plasma levels of sRAGE in sepsis patients were positively related to BNP (r=0.90, P<0.05) and APACHEII scores (r=0.85, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that plasma levels of sRAGE (OR=1.019, 95%CI 1.004-1.035, P<0.05) was independently related to cardiac function in patients with sepsis.
Conclusion: Plasma levels of sRAGE were independently related to cardiac function in patients with sepsis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)with myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia.Methods To observe the occuring rate of premature beats and change of ST- segment,90 eases of OSAS patients were detected by the polysomnogram(PSG)and dynamic electrocardiogram at the same time.Results Total morbidity of myocardial ischemia was 32.2 % in OSAS patients,and it was 59.4 %, 15.8 %,20 % in serious,moderate and mild groups respectively.There was a statistically significant difference be- tween the three groups and the control group(P0.05).Conclusion As one of the risky factors of cardiovascular diseases,OSAS can induce myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia.

"Wise men could recognize similarities, but the fool only recognizes differences" in Su-wen, which expounded clinical thinking methods of Chinese medicine (CM). "To recognize similarities and differences simultaneously" is of important clinical significance in understanding the laws of diseases. CM pays much attention to recognize similarities, while modern medicine emphasizes the differences observed. In order to develop integrative medicine (IM), similarities recognition and differences identification must be combined together to innovate new thinking methods of IM.
Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Compound Danshen Tablet (CDT) on the expression of the beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in transgenic cell model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe previously successfully cultured transgenic cell model was used as AD transgenic cell model. Rats were fed with 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 times CDT. The AD transgenic cells were cultured in 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 times rats' sera. The expressions of Abeta in transgenic cells were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSThe optimal dose effect was obtained in the 1 time CDT group at 24 h.

CONCLUSIONCDT could reduce the Abeta expression level in the AD transgenic cell model.

Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Transgenes

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

AIMTo study whether store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOC) is present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells.

METHODSIntracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes induced by thapsigargin- or caffeine-activated SOC channel were measured in enzymatically dissociated rat colonic smooth muscle cells with the fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM.

RESULTSIn the absence of external Ca2+ , the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 micromol/L) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) activator caffeine both transiently elevated [Ca2+]i from (68.32 +/- 3.43) nmol/L to (240.85 +/- 12.65 ) nmol/L, (481.25 +/- 34.77) nmol/L. A subsequent reintroduction of Ca2+ into the extracellular solution resulted in [Ca2+]i further elevated to (457.55 +/- 19.80) nmol/L, (1005.93 +/- 54.62) nmol/L; (643.88 +/- 34.65) nmol/L, (920.16 +/- 43.25) nmol/L, respectively. And the elevated response was blocked by lanthanum (1 mmol/L), but was insensitive to L-type voltage calcium channels blocker verapamil and membrane depolarization.

CONCLUSIONSOC activated by store depletion are present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells. And we further prove the existence of such Ca2+ channels in excitable cells.

Animals ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; cytology ; Fura-2 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thapsigargin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of indwelling the anterior urethral stent in the treatment of anterior urethral stricture.

METHODSWe included 38 patients with anterior urethral stricture in the treatment group, and another 38 in the control, the former treated by indwelling the anterior urethral stent, and the latter by urethral dilatation. Then we analyzed the clinical results by comparing the Qmax, urinary hesitancy and numbers of urethral dilations between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the patients of the treatment group showed an obvious increase in Qmax, a significant decrease in the number of urethral dilatations, and a marked improvement of the quality of life. Six months after the stent removal, there were significantly more patients with Qmax > 15 ml/s in the treatment group than in the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIndwelling the anterior urethral stent is a desirable option for the treatment of anterior urethral stricture, which is simple, safe, effective and reliable, and can be applied to general clinical practice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery

Objective To analyze the current situation and prevalence of leprosy in Wenshan district, Yunnan province. Methods To collect various data on leprosy reported by the health workers at the county level. Results The number of newly registered patients did not decrease significantly in 1989, 1999 and 2009, respectively. The mean age of patients at detection was 33-35 years old. Time of delay between the disease onset and being diagnosed was shortened from 35.2 months in 1989 to 15.9 months in 2009. However, the proportion of patients with more than 12 months of delay still accounted for nearly 50%. The proportion of Grade II disability fluctuated between 15.2%-17.7% and the proportion of child cases increased from 8.1% in 1989 to 13.1% in 2009. Clinics for skin diseases were the main locations for case detection. The proportion of new cases detected through 'active case finding' program accounted for 44.3% in 1999 and 42.6% in 2009, both higher than 17.7% in 1989. Conclusion The situation of leprosy in Wenshan district, Yunnan province, was still serious and the reason for the occurrence of new cases was related to the fact that the infectious source of leprosy had not been under full control.

OBJECTIVETo observe the drug resistance and drug efflux pumps gene mRNA of Saccharomyces albicans, including CDR1 gene and MDR1 gene, at different stage of biofilm formation in chemostat, furthermore to analysis the relationship between the drug efflux pump gene expression and the biofilm related drug resistance.

METHODSTo form the mature biofilm in vitro in chemostat, then collect the biofilm strains at different development stages (2, 12, 24, 48 h) to semi-quantified mRNA amount of CDR1 gene and MDR1 gene by one step RT-PCR method. Using XTT reduction method to test the dynamic change of Saccharomyces albicans drug resistance in biofilm.

RESULTSAntifungal resistance of biofilm-grown cells increased conjunction with the biofilm maturation. Compared with earth stage of biofiom strains, the amount of CDR1 mRNA gene in mature biofilm strains increased, while MDR1 gene did not.

CONCLUSIONThere is positive correlation between drug resistance and biofilm maturation of Saccharomyces albicans. Biofilm related drug resistance appears to be partially associated with the upregulation of drug efflux pumps, although the variation is not shown coincidence. During the biofilm formation, CDR1 gene expression is actively up-regulated, but MDR1 gene expression is stable.

Antifungal Agents ; Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Fluconazole ; Fungal Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Saccharomyces