Blood Pressure ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Inflammation

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-?(PPAR?) agonist on aldosterone-induced mesangial cell(MC) proliferation.Methods Mouse primary MC were cultured and treated with aldosterone(100 nmol/L) in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone(1.0,2.5,5.0,10.0 ?mol/L).The incorporation of 3H-thymidine(3H-TdR) and cell count were used as the measure of MC proliferation.Cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression,PI3K and Akt phosphorylation were determined by Western blot analysis.Results 1.Aldosterone induced MC proliferation,as assessed by 3H-TdR incorporation and cell number,which were increased by 2.46-and 2.14-fold,respectively,in aldosterone-treated cells.Aldosterone-induced MC proliferation was inhibited by PPAR? agonist rosiglitazone in dose-dependent manner in mouse MC.2.Aldosterone induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression.Rosiglitazone reduced aldosterone-induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression in dose-dependent manner.3.Aldosterone induced PI3K/Akt activation in dose-dependent manner,incubation with 100 nmol/L aldosterone for 60 min,phosphorylation PI3K and Akt expression increased by above 3.0-fold.4.PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and Akt inhibitor significantly inhibited aldosterone-induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression.5.Rosiglitazone significantly inhibited aldosterone-induced PI3K/Akt activation,10 ?mol/L rosiglitazone almost completely blocked aldosterone-induced PI3K/Akt activation.Conclusion Rosiglitazone can block aldosterone-induced MC proliferation via inhibition of PI3K/Akt activation.

Objective To investigate the effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) specific inhibitor SP600125 on Angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)-induced transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) and fibronectin (FN) expression in human mesangial cells (MC).Methods Human MC were isolated and cultured in vitro and were treated with AngⅡ in the presence or absence of JNK specific inhibitor SP600125.The protein was isolated or the supernate of medium was collected at the end of experiment.JNK,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK1/2),and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) activity were determined by Western blot method.TGF-?1 and FN were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced Ser63 phosphorylation of c-Jun in a concentration-dependent manner,and JNK activity was reduced by 75% at 10 ?mol/L and by 90% at 20 ?mol/L.SP600125 had no effect on AngⅡ-induced ERK1/2 and p38 activity.TGF-?1 and FN protein were constitutively produced in MC,and production was significantly stimulated for 8 to 48 h after addition of AngⅡ.Preincubation of cells with SP600125(20 ?mol/L) significantly inhibited AngⅡ-induced TGF-?1 and FN production during this time period.SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced production of TGF-?1 and FN in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced JNK activation and TGF-?1 and FN expression in human MC and may serve as the novel approach for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Objective;To explore the mechanism ofSimiaosan drug-containing serum on prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis.Methods Human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were divided into blank group, model group, control group, and drug-containing serum high dosage group, medium dosage group and low dosage group. The expressions of CTGF and BMP-7 were determined by real-time PCR assay and immunocytochemistry.Results After the HK-2 cell was induced by uric acid (UA), the expression of CTGF significantly increased (P<0.05), the expression of BMP-7 significantly decreased (P<0.05). After intervened bySimiaosan, the expression of CTGF significantly decreased (P<0.05), the expression of BMP-7 significantly increased (P<0.05) and present dosage dependent.Conclusion Reducing the expression of CTGF and up-regulation the expression of BMP-7 and controlling epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation may be the mechanism ofSimiaosan on prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis.

Objective To investigate mRNA expression level changes of dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and dopamine receptor gene(DRD4) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) children's peripheral blood before and after methylphenidate treatment,and to explore associations between the mRNA expression level and symptom severity,as well as methylphenidate response.Methods Forty five ADHD children by DSM-Ⅳ diagnostic criteria,aged six to fifteen years old participated in a six-week drug titration treatment of metbylphenidate.ADHD-RS-Ⅳ Home Version, WCST and VCPT were used to evaluate the ADHD clinical symptoms and cognitive functions.RNA Simple Total RNA Kit was used to extract the total RNA.After reverse transcription, the obtained c-DNA was used in the following qRT-PCR to evaluate relative mRNA expression of the candidate genges before and after medication.Results The DRD4 mRNA relative expression level after taking methylphenidate was significantly higher than that before methylphenidate treatment (0.23 ± 0.23 vs 0.16± 0.18, P =0.041).There was no significant difference between DAT1 mRNA relative expression level before (0.43 ± 0.40) and after (0.43±0.40) methylphenidate treatment.No significant difference was found on eitber basal DAT1/DRD4 mRNA expression or fold change of DAT1/DRD4 mRNA expression before and after medication between methylphenidate treatment responders and non-responders groups.There was a positively significant correlation between baseline DRD4 mRNA relative expression level and erroneous T score of CPT(r=0.424, P=0.025) , however, no other statistically significant correlation was found between basal DRD4 mRNA relative expression level and ADHD-RS-Ⅳ total score,WCST conceptual level, CPT missing T score, and CPT reaction T sco~ (all P＞0.05).There was also no statistical significant correlation between basal DAT1 mRNA relative expression level and ADHD-RS-Ⅳ total score,WCST conceptual level,and CPT T scores(all P＞0.05).Conclusion DRD4 gene function may be increased after methylphenidate treatment and play an important role in impulsivity behavior of ADHD.Therefore, DRD4 mRNA expression level might be a biomarker for ADHD diagnosis and a predicting indicator of drug efficacy.

Objective To compare the effects of levosimendan (Levo) and recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods Seventy-five patients were included into this randomized positive-controlled and parallel-group study to receive either Levo (Levo group), rhBNP (rhBNP group) or dobutamine therapy (control group). Heart rate, respiratory rate, 24-hour urine volume,improvement in six-minute walk-test after 72-h treatment were compared between three groups. The blood level of BNP and values of left ventricular end dia?stolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after one-week treatment were compared between three groups. Results After 72-h treatment, heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly decreased, and 24-hour urine volume, six-minute walk-test were significantly increased in three groups (P<0.05). The NT-proBNP and LVEF were im?proved after one week treatment (P>0.05), but the LVEDD was improved barely (P>0.05). The improvements were more significant in Levo group and rhBNP group compared to those of control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differenc?es in improvements between Levo group and rhBNP group. The common adverse reactions were hypotension and ventricular premature beats. There were no significant differences in adverse event rates between three groups (P<0.05). Conclusion As compared with dobutamine, Levo and rhBNP have optimized efficacy, fewer side effects and good safety in the treatment of ADHF. They are worth of clinical application.

Aim To investigate the effect of Ding''s herb enema prescription on intestinal tissue related target in rat colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS), and to elucidate the mechanism of Ding''s herb enema prescription in improving the intestinal inflammation and intestinal fibrosis.Methods Rats were fed with 3.5％ DSS.The rats were randomly divided into positive drug group, model group, Control group, and Ding''s herb enema prescription group.The positive drug group was treated with mesalazine enema, and Ding''s herb enema prescription group was treated with Ding''s herb enema prescription.The colon mucosa was taken once a day for 6 weeks.The changes of intestinal inflammatory response and intestinal fibrosis related proteins were detected by GSR-CAA-67 antibody protein array, and the differentially expressed proteins were screened out.Results Eight proteins showed statistical differences, including IFN-γ, erythropoietin(EPO), TIMP-2, TIM-1, IL-6, TIMP-1, TNF-α, IL-22 (P<0.05).On the other hand, Ding''s herb enema prescription and mesalazine significantly antagonized the effect of IL-6 and TIMP-1 (P<0.05).The antagonized effect of Ding''s embolization enema on TNF-α and IL-22 was also significant(P<0.05), but mesalazine had no similar effect (P>0.05).Conclusions Ding''s herb enema prescription has the effect of multiple targets, which may improve the intestinal inflammatory response and intestinal fibrosis to achieve the purpose of treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).

Objective To explore the relationship between the polymorphism of methionine synthase reductase(MTRR) A66G and the susceptibility to unexplained repeated spontaneous abortion (URSA).Methods Total of 200 Henan Han couples with URSA (URSA group) and 76 Henan Han healthy couples without URSA (control group)were enrolled in this study.Their MTRR A66G genotypes were determined by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results (1) The allele frequencies of MTRR A66G:the frequencies of allele A and allele G in URSA group were 76.5％ (153/200)in husband and 72.8％ (146/200) in wife,23.5％ (47/200) in husband and 27.2％ (54/200) in wife,respectively.The frequencies of allele A and allele G in control group were 78.9％ (60/76) in husband and 78.3％ (59/76) in wife,21.1％ (16/76) in husband and 21.7％ (16/76) in wife,respectively.The frequencies of allele A and allele G were not significantly different between female and male subjects within the same experimental group (P ＞ 0.05),and also there were not significantly different between the same gender subjects at URAS and control groups(P ＞ 0.05).(2) The genotype frequencies of MTRR A66G:the frequencies of genotype AA,AG and GG in URSA group were 57.0％ (114/200) in husband and 52.0％ (104/200) in wife,39.0％ (78/200) in husband and 41.5％ (83/200) in wife,4.0％ (8/200) in husband and 6.5％ (13/200) in wife,prepectively.The frequencies of genotype AA,AG and GG in control group were 59.2％ (45/76) in husband and 59.2％ (50/76) in wife,39.5％ (30/76) in husband and 38.2％ (29/76) in wife;1.3 ％ (1/76) in husband and 2.6％ (2/76) in wife,prepectively.The frequencies of genotype AA,AG and GG were not significantly different between female and male subjects within the same group (P ＞ 0.05),and also there were not significantly different between the same gender subjects at URSA and control groups (P ＞0.05).(3) Combined genotype of couples:the combined genotype frequencies of GG + GG,GG + AG,GG +AA,AG + AG,AG + AA and AA + AA in URSA group were 1.0％ (2/200),2.5％ (5/200),6.0％ (12/200),20.0％ (40/200),38.0％ (76/200),and 32.5 ％ (65/200),prepectively ; the combined genotype frequencies in control group were 0,1.3％ (1/76),2.6％ (2/76),17.1％ (13/76),42.1％ (32/76),36.8％ (28/76),prepectively.The combined genotype analysis between the two groups were also not significantly different (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The polymorphism of MTRR A66G gene was not associated with the susceptibility to URSA (P ＞ 0.05),and so it was not the inherited genetic risk factor of URSA.

Objective To explore the clinical diagnostic value of high frequency ultrasound on finger parenchyma tumor. Methods Twenty-two patients with finger parenchyma tumor were analyzed retrospectively by clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics including location, size, shape, echo, and color flow signals of tumors. Those findings were compared with pathological data after surgery. Results Out of 22 parenchyma tumor patients, tendosynovial giant cell tumor were present in 7 patients, fibrous tumor in 3 patients,glomus tumor in 5 patients, and ganglia in 7 patients. Differences between ultrasonographic appearances and pathologic features were found in parenchyma tumor. The tendosynovial giant cell tumors were demonstrated plentiful color flow signals and heterogeneous echoic mass without capsules. There was not found color flow signal but an intact membrane in tendosynovial fibrous tumors. Glomus tumors were hypoechoic with an intact membrane, abundant color Doppler signals, and Ⅲ level was classified by Alder. Ganglia were expressed in cystic structure. Conclusions Characteristic features of ultrasonographic appearance were found in different kind of parenchyma tumors. High frequency ultrasound is an effective method to diagnosis finger parenchyma tumor.

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic differences among scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking, body acupuncture and western medication for treatment of vascular dementia (VD).

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into a combined therapy group (31 cases), a body acupuncture group (29 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases). The combined therapy group was treated with scalp acupuncture at forehead middle line, parieral middle line, temporal front line and temporal rear line as well as auricular point sticking at naogan (AT3,41), shen (CO10), shenmen (TF4), zhen (AT3), once a day; the body acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36) and so on, once a day; the western medication group was treated with oral administration of aniracetam tablets, 0.2 g per time, twice a day. Fourteen days were considered as a treatment course, and totally 3 courses were required. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and activities of daily living (ADL) were applied to assess the changes of cognitive behavior ability before and after treatment among three groups. Also the efficacy among three groups were compared.

RESULTSOne case dropped out in the body acupuncture group and western medication group, respectively. The total effective rate was 90.334 (28/31) in the combined therapy group, which was superior to 85.734 (24/28) in the body acupuncture group and 79.3% (23/29) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05). After the treatment, the scores of MMSE and ADL were all improved among three groups, which was the most significant in the combined therapy group (MMSE: 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 21.23 +/- 4.13, P < 0.05; 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 20.41 +/- 4. 01, P < 0.01; ADL: 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 51.92 +/- 20.42, P < 0.05; 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 49.42 +/- 19.43, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking could improve the clinical symptoms and cognitive behavior ability in patients with vascular dementia, which has superior total efficacy to body acupuncture and western medication aniracetam tablets.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Cognition ; Dementia, Vascular ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp