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 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 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.

BACKGROUNDUnstable bladder is one of the common clinical dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract. Gap junctions (GJs) are the plaques of aqueous channels that facilitate electrical and metabolic communication between the intracellular compartments of adjacent cells, exchange of nutrients and ions between connected cells and transfer of electrical signals. In the present study we investigated the quantitative alterations of the GJ in the rat detrusor muscle and its functional changes related to the developing of unstable bladder (USB).

METHODSThirteen female Wistar rats (study group) with obstructive unstable bladder as determined by urodynamic study and 10 sham-operated rats (control group) were sacrificed at 6 weeks after surgery. Cystometric investigation, and the content and distribution of the GJ protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in the detrusors which were taken from the bladder of the rats were studied by Western blot and laser confocal microscopy with a double label immunohistochemistry technique.

RESULTSThe expression of Cx43 was found adjacent to the detrusor with the laser confocal microscopy. The Cx43 expression increased markedly in the study group (pixel density 29.5 +/- 13.9, staining size (17.9 +/- 8.8) microm2) compared with the control group (pixel density 14.2 +/- 2.2, staining size (5.7 +/- 3.1) microm2, P < 0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that Cx43 in the study group (the average gray level was 31.066) was significantly higher than in the control group (the average gray level was 11.701, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe increase of GJ leading to a intercellular excitatory communication is one of the important mechanisms related to developing unstable bladder.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Connexin 43 ; analysis ; Female ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Smooth ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Urinary Bladder ; chemistry ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nitric oxide-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK(Ca)) channel alpha subunit on vascular hyporesponsiveness in rats.

METHODSA total of 46 Wistar rats of either sex, weighing 250 g +/- 20 g, were used in this study. Models of vascular hyporesponsiveness induced by hemorrhagic shock (30 mm Hg for 2 hours) in vivo and by L-arginine in vitro were established respectively. The vascular responsiveness of isolated superior mesenteric arteries to norepinephrine was observed. Tyrosine phosphorylation of BK(Ca) alpha subunit was evaluated with methods of immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.

RESULTSIn the smooth muscle cells of the superior mesenteric arteries, the expression of BK(Ca) alpha subunit tyrosine phosphorylation increased following hemorrhagic shock, and L-arginine could induce BK(Ca )channel alpha subunit tyrosine phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. L-NAME (Nomega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester), a nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor, could partly restore the decreased vasoresponsiveness of the superior mesenteric arteries after hemorrhagic shock in rats. Down-regulating the protein tyrosine phosphorylation with genistein, a widely-used special protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could partly improve the decreased vasoresponsiveness of the superior mesenteric arteries induced by L-arginine in vitro, while up-regulating the protein tyrosine phosphorylation with Na(3)VO(4), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, could further decrease the nitric oxide-induced vascular hyporesponsiveness, which could be partly ameliorated by 0.1 mmol/L tetrabutylammonium chloride (TEA), a selective BK(Ca )inhibitor at this concentration.

CONCLUSIONSNitric oxide can induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of BK(Ca) alpha subunit, which influences the vascular hyporesponsiveness in hemorrhagic shock rats or induced by L-arginine in vitro.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Protein Subunits ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; metabolism ; Tetraethylammonium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Tyrosine ; metabolism ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

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 compare efficacy of different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for stage II-III gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy in Asian patients.

METHODSAssociated literatures were searched through electronic databases and hand-searching. Prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing adjuvant chemotherapy after D2 gastrectomy with surgery alone were included in the study. Overall survival and disease-free survival were chosen as the endpoints. Relative hazard was analyzed by Bucher adjusted indirect comparison.

RESULTSTwo RCTs were selected, including comparison between S-1 versus surgery alone and comparison between XELOX versus surgery alone. There was no statistical difference in overall survival between the two regimens (HR=0.94, 95%CI:0.62-1.44, P=0.79). The recurrence risk of S-1 was slightly higher as compared to XELOX, but no statistical difference was found (HR=1.11, 95%CI:0.80-1.53, P=0.54).

CONCLUSIONThe adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 is similar to XELOX for stage II-III gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy in Asian patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Postoperative Care ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome