Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Neoplasms ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of four natures of medicine on therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking therapy.

METHODSSixty-one cases of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into a capsaicin group (n=20), a menthol group (n=20) and a control group (n=21). They were treated respectively with capsaicin and menthol, which are extracts of Lajiao (Fructus Capsici) and Bohe (Herba Menthae) with same pungent in flavor and different cold (cool) and heat in property, and application of Tongjing Jiu Tieji (plaster for dysmenorrhea) at Shenque (CV 8). Changes of clinical symptoms before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the cumulative scores of symptoms and the scores of pain decreased significantly in the 3 groups (P < 0.01), with no significant differences among the 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn acupoint sticking therapy, the four natures of medicine have no obvious effect on the therapeutic effect, so the four natures of medicine should not used as main standard of medicine selection.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Hot Temperature ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of siRNA silencing the role of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) gene in excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress on lung ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSMouse model of pulmonary ischemia reperfusion injury (PIRI) in situ was established with unilateral lung in vivo. Seventy experimental mice were randomly allocated into seven groups (n = 10): Sham group (Sham group), ischemia reperfusion group (I/R), PBS+ Lipofectamine2000TM transfection reagent group (I/R + PBS+ Lipo group), negative control group (I/R+ SCR group), JNK-siRNA group (I/R + siRNA(JNK1), siRNA(JNK2), siRNA(JNK3)). Mice were euthanized after experimental time out, and left lung tissue was extracted. Wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) and total lung water content (TLW) were tested. Light microscope, alveolar damage quantitative evaluation index (IQA) and electron microscope were observed. The expression levels of JNK and glucose regulatex protein(GRP78) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis of lung tissue was determined by TUNEL.

RESULTSCompared with Sham group, all indicators above of I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and compared with I/R group, those indicators of the three groups all had no notable difference; those indicators were not statistically different between I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group, and compared to the three groups, the above indicators in JNK-siRNA group were lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) except that the expression levels of GRP78 was not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONI/R induces excessive ERS in lung tissue, in which JNK pathway participates in apoptosis, leading to lung tissue injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Lung Injury ; genetics ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics

Diagnosis, Differential ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Jejunal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Jejunum ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

Autopsy ; Fetus ; Heart Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Rhabdomyoma ; pathology ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; pathology

Objective　To study the relationship between atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery and ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Methods　The extracranial carotid arteries (ECA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 54 patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebral infarction (CI) were examined with doppler ultrasound. The distribution of atherosclerotic plaque, degree of stenosis and ultrasounic classification of ECA and the mean velocity of blood flow in MCA were examined. Results　①Stenosis over middle-grade on asymptomatic side in extracranial internal carotid artery (EICA) in group of patients with TIA was significantly higher than symptomatic side(P<0.01). Stenosis over high-grade on asymptomatic side in ELCA in group of patients with CI was significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). ②Flat and soft plaque are most common in group of patients with TIA or CI, then are hard and ulcerative plaques. Incidence of soft plaques on asymptomatic side in group of patients with TIA or CI are significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01); ③Among the group of patients with CI, mean velocity of MCA decreased on asymptomatic side in 31 cases (68.9%), and significantly higher than symptomatic side (P<0.01). Conclusion　Atheroclerotic plaques in carotid artery and intracranial hemodynamic characteristics are the important risk factors for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. These findings have important values in predicting subsequent TIA or CI in asymptomatic subjects.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of serum chemerin with degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome.

METHODSFrom July, 2012 to July, 2013, 48 patients with metabolic syndrome (mean age 56.33∓6.14 years, including 25 male and 23 female patients), 48 patients with metabolic syndrome and DAVD (mean age 60.16∓6.72 years, 24 males and 21 females), and 48 adult healthy volunteers (mean age 52.94∓8.28 years, 23 males and 25 females) were examined for triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein and other biochemical indexes. Serum chemerin levels were detected using ELISA for all the subjects.

RESULTSPatients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of serum chemerin than the healthy subjects, and patients with DAVD had higher chemerin levels than those with DAVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased serum chemerin level is a predictor of aortic valve degeneration in patients with metabolic syndrome. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that serum chemerin levels, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total triglyceride and C-reactive protein were associated with metabolic syndrome. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified correlations of body mass index and C-reactive protein with serum chemerin level.

CONCLUSIONElevated serum chemerin level can be a predictor for DAVD in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Valve ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Chemokines ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; Heart Valve Diseases ; complications ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood

The purpose of this study is to determine whether aspirin can reduce interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta) concentration and exert protective effects against heatstroke. The heatstroke rat model was established through exposing rat to a high ambient temperature (HAT, Ta 41 degrees C, relative humidity 65%) in a simulative HAT chamber to induce heatstroke. Three parts were performed in the present experiment: (1) To determine the effects of pretreatment with aspirin against heatstroke;(2) To prove the effects of specifically reducing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) against rat heatstroke by iNOS selective prohibitor aminoguanidine (AG);(3) To determine the effects of aspirin against heatstroke and fatigue. In part 1 and 2, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control and aspirin groups or AG groups respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), colonic temperature (T(co)), electrocardiograph (ECG) were monitored during heat exposure (HE) and blood samples were taken 0 and 60 min after HE for IL-1betaassay or nitric oxide (NO) assay. In part 3, additional control and aspirin groups of conscious rats were put in a barrel with 41 degrees C water and kept swimming until drowning over 10 s, and then intervals were recorded as survival time. The results from part 1 showed that from 0 to 50 min after HE, MAPs of control group and aspirin group were not significantly different. About 50-60 min after HE, MAPs of both groups were decreased abruptly and MAPs of control group were decreased significantly in comparison with those of aspirin group. T(co) of both groups was increased until to 42 degrees C, without significant difference. Time of heatstroke onset was not significantly different, while survival time was significantly longer in aspirin group than that in control group. Plasma IL-1betaconcentrations in both groups were significantly increased after HE, and the concentration was significantly higher in the control group than that in aspirin group 60 min after HE. In part 3, the survival time was significantly longer in aspirin group than that in control group. In part 2, MAPs of both groups from 0 to 50 min after HE were not significantly different, whereas 55-60 min after HE, MAPs of control group were decreased significantly in comparison with those of AG group;T(co) of both groups was increased after HE until to 42 degrees C, but without significant difference. The time of the heatstroke onset and survival time of AG group were significantly longer than that of control group;the plasma NO concentrations of two groups were significantly higher 60 min after HE than those 0 min after HE, and the plasma NO concentration of control group was significantly higher than that of AG group 60 min after HE. In conclusion, IL-1betamay contribute to heatstroke through inducing iNOS, which attenuates the tone of peripheral blood vessel, and pretreatment with aspirin can provide preventive effects against heatstroke and reinforce the heat and fatigue endurance, which may be associated with inhibition of systemic IL-1betalevels and local iNOS levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of propofol against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and its relation with gap junction.

METHODSSeventy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, I/R group, low-, moderate-, and high-dose propofol groups (25, 50, 100 mg/kg; P25, P50, P100 groups, respectively), I/R+CBX group and P100+CBX group. Thread occlusion was used to induce middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the mice for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Longa's scores were used to evaluate the neurological behavior of the rats. TTC staining was used to measure the cerebral infarction volume and Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of Cx43, PKC, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the brain of the rats.

RESULTSCompared with the I/R group, the rats pretreated with moderate and high doses of propofol showed significantly reduced neurological behavior scores and cerebral infarction volume percentage, and the effect was more obvious in high-dose propofol pretreatment group. CBX obviously enhanced the protective effect of propofol against I/R injury. Compared with those in the sham-operated group, the protein expression of Cx43 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were increased and the protein expression of PKC was reduced in I/R group, and these changes were significantly reversed by high-dose propofol pretreatment; the effects of propofol were further enhanced by CBX.

CONCLUSIONThe protective effect of propofol against cerebral I/R injury may involve the inhibition of the gap junction via PKC signaling and by reducing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; prevention & control ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Male ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Signal Transduction ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of serum levels of decoy receptor 3(DcR3) protein and the clinicopathologic features of bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine the serum levels of DcR3 in patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma for analysis of its association with the patients' age, gender, clinical stages and pathological classification.

RESULTSThe patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma showed a significantly elevated serum level of DcR3 (183.43 ∓78.45 pg/m1) compared with the normal level (116.65∓97.43 pg/m1, P<0.05). The serum level of DcR3 in the patients showed close correlations with the TNM stage and pathological classification of the tumor (P<0.05) but not with the patients' age or gender (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma, a high serum level of DcR3 suggests a higher malignancy of the tumor.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b ; blood ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; blood