Objective To investigate the association between microalbuminuria (MA) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein in essential hypertensive subjects. Methods Urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER)and the concentrations of high-sensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) were measured. One hundred and eight patients with hypertension were divided into 2 groups: normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria group. concentrations of hs-CRP was compared between the two groups , and the association between MA and hs-CRP was evaluated.Results Patients with microalbuminuria were significantly characterized by higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) ,pulse pressure(PP) ,circulating fibrinogen and hs-CRP. Evaluation of bivariate correlation indicated that UAER was positively correlated with SBP , PP , body mass index (BMI) ,Serum creatinine (SCr), fibrinogen and hs-CRP. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated PP, SCr and hs-CRP were independent risks associated with UAER.Conclusions Microalbuminuria is a sensitive marker in essential hypertensive subjects with early renal injury .hs-CRP is an independent risk associated with UAER ,which suggests that inflammation correlate with early renal injury in essential hypertension.

Objective To explore the potential role of ineffective esophageal motility(IEM) in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).Methods The esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring findings from patients with GERD were analyzed to identify the prevalence of IEM in patients with GERD.And comparison of esophageal acid exposure,esophageal acid clearance (EAC) and endoscopic esophagitis in GERD patients with IEM were made.Results Of 86 patients with GERD,59 (68.6%) were found to have nonspecific esophageal motility disorder (NEMD);55 of the 59 (93.2%)patients with NEMD met the diagnostic criteria for IEM.The overall incidence of IEM in GERD patients was 63.95%.Patients with IEM demonstrated significant increase in total,upright and recumbent mean percentage of time of pH

Objective To research the relationship between the myocardiac ischemic activity and degree of depression in elderly patients.MethodsThe Center For Epidemiological Studies-Depressive Scale(CES-D) was administered to evaluate depressive degree for 121 patients who were defined as coronary artery diseased by coronary angiography (CAG); group A (n=64) for no depressive symptoms,group B (n=34) for minor depression, group C (n=23) for major depression were studied to observing the myocardial ischemia using Holter's recording and exercise testing.ResultsCAG showed that single vessel disease was more frequently in group A;single,double and three-vessel disease showed approximative proportion in group B,three-vessel disease was more frequently in group C.The times of ST-depress were (4.2±1.3),lasting time of ST-depress was (35.8±9.2) min,and index of ST-depress was (3.28±0.9) min/h,which were higher than those of group A [(1.8±0.3),(16.6±4.2) min,(1.76±0.4) min/h] and group C [(2.1±0.7),(17.8±5.8) min,(1.69±0.5)min/ h](P<0.05);There was significantly frequent myocardial ischemia in group B than in group A during exercise testing (χ2=3.274,P<0.05). patients in group C tended to have approximative incidence of ischemia compared with group A during daily living,but more incidence of ischemia than group B during exercise testing(χ2=5.473,P<0.05).ConclusionThe depressive degree was associated with severity of coronary artery disease,mild to moderate symptoms of depression are associated with an increased likelihood of myocardial ischemia during daily living and exercise,but patients with severity depression absence symptoms of myocardial ischemia during daily living,and exhibit markedly myocardial ischemia during exercise.

Objective: To study the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ( LBP ) on blood indexes and liver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and LBP low, medium and high dose group. The rats in the model group and LBP dose groups were given 60 mg/kg alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ( ANIT ) by gavage every three days of the experiment, and the rats in the control group were given salad oil instead of ANIT. From the third day, the rats in each dose group were given 40, 150 and 600 mg/kg LBP, and the rats in the model group were given distilled water. After four weeks, the blood and urine indexes were measured, and the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed. Results: From the third day of the experiment, the activity of rats in the model group and LBP dose groups decreased, and the color of urine changed to dark yellow. There was no abnormality in the group. In the model group, the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid ( TBA ), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ), γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GGT), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), white blood cell ( WBC ), percentage of granulocyte, urinary bilirubin, urinary bile acid, liver mass and liver to body ratio were higher than those in the control group, while red blood cell and percentage of lymphocyte were lower than those in the control group ( all P<0.05 ). Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed. The levels of serum TBA, ALP, γ-GGT, ALT, AST, WBC and liver to body ratio in LBP high dose group were lower than those in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation and expansion of bile duct, degeneration and necrosis of liver cells were alleviated. Conclusions LBP can improve the blood indexes and pathological changes of liver tissue in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis at the dosage of 600 mg/kg. Inhibition of inflammatory response and reduction of oxidative stress injury may be the mechanism for alleviating cholestatic liver injury.

Tissue engineered meniscus provides a novel approach for the treatment of severe meniscus injury. The researches on scaffold for tissue engineered meniscus is an essential element. The researches on scaffolds for tissue engineered meniscus, including natural biomaterials and synthetic polymer, have made great advances in recent years. At present, collagen meniscus implants have been used in clinical practice. As hydrogel is characterized by having high water content and good biocompatibility, being similar to extracellular matrix in structure, and being able to provide access to microsurgery, it has become the hotspot field in recent years. Meanwhile, the combinatorial scaffold material advantages of biological composite tissue engineered scaffolds also illuminate the key point of research on meniscal scaffolds. This paper reviews the recent progress in betterment of the scaffolds so as to provide a theoretical and practical basis for further researches of tissue engineered meniscus.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Menisci, Tibial ; cytology ; surgery ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

Objective: To evaluate the toxicological safety of a compound Chinese medicine preparation of gardenia. Methods: Eighty healthy SD rats with half males and half females were randomly divided into four groups. The low-,moderate- and high-dose group were given 1.00 g/kgbw,2.00 g/kgbw and 4.00 g/kgbw of the preparation,while the control group was given distilled water,by gavage for 30 days. The changes of diet,weight,hematological parameters and major organs of rats were observed,and the histopathological examination of the main organs was performed. Results: The rats in the high-dose group reduced activities and their urine turned dark yellow or green,while the other rats showed no abnormality. No rats died during the experimental period. Compared with the control group,the weight,the total weight gain,the food utilization rate,the fasted weight of the rats in the high-dose group and the hemoglobin content of the female rats in the high-dose group were significantly decreased（P<0.05）;the ratio of liver to body weight,the ratio of kidney to body weight,the serum creatinine levels of the rats in the high-dose group and the serum urea nitrogen levels of the male rats in the high-dose group were significantly higher（P<0.05）. The livers and kidneys of the rats in high-dose group turned different degrees of dark green;the hepatic pigmentation,hepatocyte vacuolar degeneration,bile duct hyperplasia accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration,renal pigmentation,renal tubular epithelial cellular swelling,and renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. Conclusion This preparation at a dose of 4.0 g/kgbw has hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity to rats. A dose of 2.0 g/kgbw has no harmful effect but less than 100 times of the possible human intake,the safety is not guaranteed.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of a herbal pilatory for external use. Methods : An acute eye irritation test were employed to detect the eye irritation of the herbal pilatory;a skin irritation test,a skin sensitization test and a skin phototoxicity test were employed to detect the dermal toxicity;Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay（Ames test）and chromosome aberration test in CHL cells were employed to detect the effects of the pilatory on gene mutation and chromosome aberration in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Results: When the eyes of rabbits exposed to the pilatory without rinse during the first 24 hours,the conjunctiva showed congestion and edema with the highest score of 2,corneal opacity was observed with the highest score of 1;however,these symptoms returned to normal within 72 hours,with the score reduced to 0. No irritation to the skin of rabits was found after exposed to the pilatory for fourteen days,no skin sensitization was introduced by Buehler test and no skin phototoxicity on guinea pigs was detected. There was no abnormal growth of reverse mutation colonies induced by the pilatory under S9 acitivation or not. There was no statistically significant rise of chromosome aberration rate in the exposed CHL cells compared to the control groups（P>0.05）. Conclusion Under the condition,the herbal pilatory showed mild and reversible irritation to eyes,while no dermal toxicity and genetic toxicity were observed. The safety of the herbal pilatory for external use is acceptable.

Objective: To learn the toxicity of Dendrobium officinale flowers to pregnant rats ( P, F1 ) and offspring rats ( F1, F2 ) before birth, so as to provide toxicological evidence for the safety assessment. Methods : The rats were divided into four groups with 20 female rats and 10 male each. The rats in three dose groups were fed with Dendrobium officinale flowers at the dose of 2.0, 4.0, 6.4g/kgbw. After two generation, the F1a and F2a rats were fed with basal diet; F1b and F2b rats were fed with Dendrobium officinale flowers. The body weights and total weight gains during the gestation, the conception rates, the pregnancy rates, the birth weights and survival rates of offspring rats were examined. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the body weights and total weight gains during the gestation, the conception rates, and the pregnancy rates in pregnant rats ( P, F1 ) among the four groups ( P>0.05 ). There were also no statistically significant differences in the survival rates and live birth rates in offspring rats (F1, F2) between the dose groups and the control group ( P>0.05 ). Conclusions Dendrobium officinale flowers did not show obviously adverse effects on pregnant rats ( P, F1 ) and offspring rats ( F1, F2 ) before birth.

Objective: To explore the cause and type of pigmentation in the livers and kidneys of rats caused by a compound Chinese medicine preparation. Methods: The experiment consist of low, medium, and high dose groups and a control group, the Sprague-Dawley rats in these groups were orally given 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g/kgbw of a compound Chinese medicine preparation of gardenia and distilled water for 30 days, respectively. The body weight, diet, hematology and histopathology of the rats in each group were observed for changes in pigment metabolism. Results: In the first and second weeks of the experiment, the rats in the low, medium, high dose groups and the control group showed no abnormal symptoms or signs. From the third weekend, the urine of the rats in the high dose group turned thick yellow and green, and the stool color became light. During the experiment, no rats died. There were statistically significant differences in body weights and weight gains among these groups ( P<0.05 ) . There were statistically significant differences in total food utilization, direct bilirubin, r-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and liver/body ratios among these groups ( P<0.05 ). Gross examination revealed that the livers and kidneys of rats in the high dose group were dull and green. Microscopic examination revealed changes in dark pigment particles in the livers and kidneys of rats in the high dose group. Histochemical staining confirmed that pigments in the livers and kidneys were bile pigments. Conclusions At a dosage of 4.0 g/kgbw, a compound Chinese medicine preparation of gardenia can lead to bile pigment deposition in the livers and kidneys of rats due to cholestasis.

Objective: To learn the effects of Dendrobium officinale flowers on testivular tissue morphology and sperm quality in parent and offspring rats,so as to provide reference for safety evaluation of Dendrobium officinale flowers. Methods: The 40 SD rats was randomly divided into the low-,middle-,high-dose and the control group,given 2.0,4.0,6.4 and 0 g/kgbw Dendrobium officinale flowers,respectively. After three months,the body weight,mass and organ/body coefficients of testis and epididymis of parent （P） and offspring （F1,F2） rats were measured;the number,activity and deformity of sperms were observed under microscope;the changes of testis and epididymis were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining. Results: There were no significantly statistical differences in the body weight,mass and organ/body coefficients of testis and epididymis,sperm quantity,sperm motility rate among four groups of P、F1、F2 male rats （P>0.05）. There were no significantly statistical differences in sperm malformation rate between the high-dose group and the control group （P>0.05）. There was no significant change in testis and epididymis of P,F1 and F2 male rats. Conclusion Dendrobium officinale flowers did not show obviously adverse effects on testivular tissue morphology and sperm quality in parent and offsping rats.