AIMTo study the direct effect and kinetics of sodium quercetin-7,4'-disulphate (SQDS) on recombinant human protein kinase CK2 holoenzyme.

METHODSThe recombinant human CK2 holoenzyme activity was assayed by detecting incorporation of 32P of [gamma-32P] ATP into the substrate in various conditions.

RESULTSThe recombinant human CK2 was a second messenger (Ca2+, cAMP and cGMP) independent protein kinase. The characterization and function of the reconstituted holoenzyme were consistent with those of native CK2. SQDS was shown to strongly inhibit the holoenzyme activity of recombinant human protein kinase CK2 with an IC50 of 4.4 mumol.L-1, which was more effective than DRB and A3, known CK2 special inhibitors. Kinetic studies of SQDS on recombinant human CK2 showed: the inhibition was competitive with ATP and noncompetitive with casein.

CONCLUSIONSQDS is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase CK2. This study provide experimental basis for the development of more effective inhibitors of CK2 and for clinical application of SQDS in the future.

Casein Kinase II ; Dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of solid focal lesions of pancreas (s-FLPs).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 s-FLPs examined with contrast agent combined with low mechanical indicators contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

RESULTSThe surrounding pancreas parenchyma enhancement time, lesion enhancement time, and peak enhancement time between different groups of s-FLPs had no significant differences (P > 0.05), while the beginning to peak enhancement time showed significant difference (P < 0.05). When using the enhancement speed as a diagnostic indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90.5%, 71.4%, and 85.7% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 91.7%, and 89.3% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When using the enhancement pattern as a diagnosis indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 85.7%, 78.6%, and 83.9% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 100%, and 94.6% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When different indicators were combined, enhancement pattern and enhancement speed showed the best diagnostic results; however, the Youden index was not improved.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent s-FLPs show different enhancement findings on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The enhancement pattern and enhancement speed are the most useful diagnostic indicators.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDRecurrence or metastasis of myxomas is not rare and can lead to malignancy. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiac myxoma recurrence and to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatments and classification.

METHODSThe clinical data of 5 patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma were retrospectively analyzed and our clinical experience was summarized. Moreover, the relevant literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSAll the five cases of primary myxomas were derived from atypical positions. One patient had early distant metastasis, one had family history, and two suffered malignant recurrence. The recurrence interval was (2.30 ± 2.16) years and the recurrent tumors were all found in different chambers from those of the corresponding primary tumors. Re-operation was performed after recurrence. One patient died of heart failure after malignant recurrence, and the other 4 cases had satisfactory therapeutic outcomes after re-operations. Our experience advocated a clinical classification of "typical" and "atypical" cardiac myxoma, the typical myxomas referred to the tumors locating at the left atria, with single pedicle, rooted at or around the fossa ovalis, involving no genetic causes, and the atypical myxomas included the familial tumors, tumors stemming from multiple chambers, rooted in abnormal positions of the left atrium, with evident genetic mutation, or with malignant tendency.

CONCLUSIONSPostoperative follow-up is of vital importance for patients with myxomas characterized by multi-chamber distribution, early distant metastasis, atypical origin, and family history. Once recurs, re-operation is necessary and should be performed immediately.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of different doses of 8-hydroxy dihydroberberine (Hdber) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats.

METHODSA rat model of hyperlipidemia was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet for 4 weeks in 70 rats of 80 animals, and 10 rats were randomly selected as control group. The hyperlipidemic rats were then randomly divided into the following groups: a model group (MOD); a berberine group [BBR, 156 mg/(kg day)]; Hdber groups, which were treated with different doses of Hdber [78, 39 and 19.5 mg/(kg day)]; and a simvastatin group [SIM, 4 mg/(kg day)]. The corresponding therapy was administered to the rats of each treatment via gastric tubes. Normal animals were used as a control group. The blood levels of various lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid (FFA), apolipoprotein AI(Apo-AI) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) were examined. The protein expressions of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK-9) in liver tissues were determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the control group of rats, the model group demonstrated a deteriorated blood lipid profile and exhibited increased expression levels of PCSK-9 protein in their liver tissues (P<0.01). In addition, the high-fat diet decreased the expression levels of LDL-R, SREBP-2 and HMGCR proteins in murine liver tissues. However, the addition of berberine or Hdber reversed the blood lipid profile changes (P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased the expression levels of PCSK-9 proteins (P<0.01), and increased the expression levels of LDL-R proteins in the hyperlipidemic rats (P<0.01). These compounds did not significantly influence the expression levels of SREBP-2 and HMGCR proteins in the hyperlipidemic rats.

CONCLUSIONSHdber is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats. The therapeutic mechanisms of Hdber may be associated with increasing the expression of LDL-R protein and decreasing the expression of PCSK-9 protein in liver tissues.

Animals ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Apolipoproteins B ; blood ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; metabolism ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Proprotein Convertase 9 ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, LDL ; metabolism ; Serine Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the quantity and subtypes of dendritic cells (DC) in patients with immune related pancytopenia (IRP) and to explore the role of DC in pathogenesis of IRP. The quantity of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC, Lin(-)HLA-DR(+) CD123(+) cells) and myeloid dendritic cells (mDC, Lin(-)HLA-DR(+) CD11c(+)cells) in peripheral blood of 65 patients with IRP (37 new diagnosed and 28 remitted) and 17 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the ratio of pDC in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) was (0.91 ± 064)% in new diagnosed group, which was significantly higher than that in remission group (0.39 ± 0.11)% and control group (0.29 ± 0.13)% (P < 0.01), while this ratio of pDC in remission group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of mDC in PBMNC was (0.21 ± 0.20)% in new diagnosed group and (0.34 ± 0.21)% in remission group respectively, there was no statistical difference as compared with control group (0.29 ± 0.09)% (P > 0.05). The ratio of pDC to mDC in new diagnosed group was 6.75 ± 7.11, which was significantly higher than that in remission group (1.55 ± 0.93) and control group (1.07 ± 0.43, P < 0.01), there was no statistical difference between the ratio of remission group and control group (P > 0.05). The ratio of pDC in PBMNC of IRP group negatively correlated to ratio of Th1/Th2 (r = -0.347, P < 0.05), and positively correlated to the ratio of auto-antibody on membrane of BMMNC (r = 0.606, P < 0.05) and to the quantity of CD5(+)B cells (r = 0.709, P < 0.05), while it negatively correlated to the levels of hemoglobin (r = -0.381, P < 0.01) and platelets (r = -0.343, P < 0.01). The ratio of mDC in PBMNC positively correlated to the ratio of Th1/Th2 (r = 0.595, P < 0.05) and the level of hemoglobin (r = 0.292, P < 0.05). The ratio of pDC/mDC negatively correlated to ratio of Th1/Th2 (r = -0.395, P < 0.05), it positively correlated to the level of antibody on membrane of BMMNC (r = 0.421, P < 0.05) and the quantity of CD5(+)B cells (r = 0.423, P < 0.05), while it negatively correlated to the levels of hemoglobin (r = -0.304, P < 0.05) and platelets (r = -0.287, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the quantity of pDC in peripheral blood of IRP patients increases, which may be related to the immunopathogenesis of IRP.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Cell Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; blood ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo review the experience of reoperative valve replacement for 104 patients.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2009, 104 patients underwent heart valve replacement in reoperations, accounting for 2.92% of the total patient population (3557 cases) who had valve replacement during this period. In this group, 53 male and 51 female patients were included with a median age of 46 years (ranged from 13 to 72 years). The reasons of reoperation included 28 cases suffered from another valve lesion after valve replacement, 10 cases suffered from valve lesion after mitral valvuloplasty, 19 cases suffered from perivalvular leakage after valve replacement, 18 cases suffered from valve lesion after previous correction of congenital heart defect, 7 cases suffered from bioprosthetic valve decline, 10 cases suffered from prosthetic valve endocarditis, 9 cases suffered from dysfunction of machine valve, and 3 cases suffered from other causes. The re-operations were mitral and aortic valve replacement in 2 cases, mitral valve replacement in 59 cases, aortic valve replacement in 24 cases, tricuspid valve replacement in 16 cases, and Bentall's operation in 3 cases. The interval from first operation to next operation was 1 month-19 years.

RESULTSThere were 8 early deaths from heart failure, renal failure and multiple organ failure (early mortality 7.69%). Major complications were intraoperative hemorrhage in 2 cases, re-exploration for mediastinal bleeding in 2 cases and sternotomy surgical site infection in 1 case. Complete follow-up (3 months-7 years and 2 months) was available for all patients. Two patients died, one patient died of intracranial hemorrhage, and another cause was unknown.

CONCLUSIONSatisfactory short-term and long-term results can be obtained in reoperative valve replacement with appropriate timing of operation control, satisfactory myocardial protection, accurate surgical procedure and suitable perioperative treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Animals ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the function of dendritic cells (DC) of patients with immune related pancytopenia (IRP) and explore the role of DC in IRP.

METHODSThe expression of CD80 and CD86 on myeloid DC (mDC, Lin-HLA-DR(+) CD11c(+) cells) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC, Lin-HLA-DR(+) CD123(+) cells) of 65 IRP (37 untreated and 28 remitted) patients and 17 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression of CD86 on pDC was (82.47 ± 13.17)% in untreated group and (60.08 ± 14.29)% in remission group, which were significantly higher than that of controls (47.95 ± 18.59)% (P < 0.05), while the expression in untreated group was higher than that of remission group (P < 0.05). The expression of CD80 on pDC was (6.31 ± 4.49)% in untreated group, which was significantly higher than that of remitted patients (3.09 ± 2.93)% and controls (2.33 ± 2.25)% (P < 0.05). The expression of CD86 on mDC was (97.06 ± 4.82)% in untreated group and (91.35 ± 12.20)% in control group, while the expression in untreated group was higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). The expression of CD80 on mDC was (6.20 ± 5.44)% in untreated group and (3.97 ± 3.24)% in remission group, which were significantly higher than that of controls (1.86 ± 1.73)% (P < 0.05). The expression of CD86 on pDC was negatively correlated to Th1/Th2 (r = -0.733, P < 0.05), it was positively correlated to the antibody on membrane of BMMNC (r = 0.283, P < 0.05) and the quantity of CD5(+)B cells (r = 0.436, P < 0.05), while it was negatively correlated to the level of hemoglobin, platelets and white blood cells (r = -0.539, P < 0.05; r = -0.519, P < 0.05; r = -0.567, P < 0.05, respectively). The expression of CD80 on pDC was negatively correlated to the level of hemoglobin and platelets (r = -0.431, P < 0.05; r = -0.464, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe function of pDC in PB of IRP were strengthened, which was relevant to the immunopathogenesis of IRP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; complications ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; blood ; etiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To prepare isophenylcyclopentylamine hydrochloride capsules and evaluate its quality. Methods The suitable excipients were selected by the drug-excipient compatibility test,and after the formulation and preparation process design and screening,the micromeritic property and hygroscopicity of contents of capsules as well as the basic performance and stability of is-ophenylcyclopentylamine hydrochloride capsules were evaluate. Results The selected formulation was composed of isophenylcyclo-pentylamine hydrochloride 10 mg,anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate 128.7 mg,mannitol 128.7 mg and aerosil 2.7 mg.The angle of repose of intermediate powders was(30.71±1.09)°,aerated and packed bulk densities were(0.76±0.01)and(0.90±0.02)g/ml re-spectively,Hausner value was 1.19±0.01,Carr′s index was(15.86±1.05)%,indicating good flowability and filling property as well as relatively low humidity.The contents,uniformity of contents and dissolution of capsules fulfilled the requirements.The quality of ca-pusles kept well in the 6-month accelerated and long-term stability test.Conclusion The formulation is simple and reasonable,and the preparation process showed a good reproducibility,which might be suitable for industrialization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect on intestinal dysfunction of spinal cord injury (SCI) between the comprehensive therapy of moxibustion (moxibustion for opening the governor vessel and regulating the spirit) and rehabilitation training and the simple treatment with rehabilitation training. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with intestinal dysfunction of SCI were randomized into a comprehensive therapy group and a rehabilitation group, 30 cases in each one (3 cases were dropped out in each group). On the base of the routine western medicine treatment and rehabilitation training, the bowel training and rectal function training were provided, once a day in the rehabilitation group. In the comprehensive therapy group, on the base of the treatment as the rehabilitation group, the moxibustion was exerted at Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Mingmen (GV 4), Zhiyang (GV 9), Dazhui (GV 14) and Baihui (GV 20), etc, once a day, 30 min each time. In both groups, the treatment for 4 weeks was as one course and 3 courses of treatment were required. Separately, before treatment, after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the scores of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) and World Health Organization quality of life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were observed and the clinical effect was evaluated after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the total effective rate was 88.9% (24/27) in the comprehensive therapy group, which was higher than 74.1% (20/27) in the rehabilitation group (<0.05). After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, NBD scores were all reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.01). After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, NBD scores in the comprehensive therapy group were lower than the rehabilitation group (both <0.05). After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the scores of all of the domains (psychology, physiology, social relations and environment) in WHOQOL-BREF were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.01). After 4 weeks of treatment, the scores in the psychology and physiology domains in the comprehensive therapy group were higher than the rehabilitation group (all <0.05). After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the scores of all of the domains in the comprehensive therapy group were higher than the rehabilitation group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION The comprehensive treatment of moxibustion and rehabilitation training achieves the better effect on intestinal dysfunction of SCI than the simple rehabilitation training and greatly improves the quality of life in SCI patients.
Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy