Aim To investigate the protective effect and the underline mechanisms of total flavonoids from Sorbus Tianschanica L leaf (TFST) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods The I/R injury model of rat isolated heart was prepared by improved Langendorff retrograde perfusion method.Following the treatment,the coronary blood flow levels (CF),left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dt_(max)) were monitored as the myocardial function.The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardial tissue were measured by the commercial kits. The in vitro anti-oxidative capacity of TFST was detected by the DPPH and lipid peroxidation reaction system.Results Compared with I/R injury group, pre-incubation with TFST (6.0 mg·L~(-1)) significantly improved the LVDP,±dp/dt_(max) and CF during reperfusion. TFST (6.0 mg·L~(-1)) treatment significantly increased the SOD activities and reduced the MDA levels in myocardium tissue.Moreover,TFST (from 6.25 to 100.0 mg·L~(-1)) scavenged the DPPH, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion free radicals, and inhibited the lipid peroxidation reaction in a concentration-dependent way.Conclusions All the results demonstrate that TFST possesses the cardioprotective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury.This efficacy may be due to its antioxidative activity.

Using the chromosomal DNA of an ice nucleation active bacterium Erwinia ananas 110 as template, an ice nucleation active (ina) gene was amplified by PCR with Taq plusI DNA polymerase. After sequencing and compared with reported ina genes, the cloned gene was identified as a new ina gene and was registered in GenBank at the accession number of AF387802. The new ina gene, named as iceA, has 3921 bp for its coding region, which encodes 1306 amino acids consisting of repetitive segment (R-domain, 1104aa), which is flanked by N-and C-terminal sequences, with 161 aa and 41aa, respectively.

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSOne hundred and five cases of FD were randomly divided into a syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, a regular acupuncture group and a non-acupoint group, 35 cases in each one. Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. After syndrome differentiation, Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were added for those with stagnation of liver qi; Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) were added for those with deficiency of spleen-stomach qi; Qimen (LR 14) and Taichong (LR 3) were added for liver-qi invading stomach and Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for dampness-heat blocking stomach. The selection of acupoints in the regular acupuncture group was the same as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. The points 10 mm lateral to the main acupoints were selected in the non-acupoint group. The treatment was given once a day, six days as a treatment course and totally two courses were required. The symptom total score, health-related quality of life survey (SF-36) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the treatment as well as one month after the treatment (follow-up visit), respectively. The efficacy was also assessed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5% (28/32) in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, which was superior to 74.2% (23/31) in the regular acupuncture group and 20.7% (6/29) in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared before the treatment, the SF-36, NDI and symptom total score after the treatment and in the follow-up visit were all obviously improved in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group and regular acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), which was the most obvious in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group [after the treatment, SF-36: 84.54 +/- 5.93 vs 81.44 +/- 6.22, 63.46 +/- 6.59; NDSI: 18.94 +/- 9.30 vs 21.23 +/- 8.39, 43.93 +/- 11.26; NDLQI: 71.42 +/- 7.23 vs 63.11 +/- 7.06, 54.87 +/- 6.00; symptom total score: 22.06 +/- 15.80 vs 32.52 +/- 16.88, 47.97 +/- 10.92]; the improvement in the regular acupuncture group was more obvious than that in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared before the treatment, only NDSI score was improved in the non-acupoint group after the treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe syndrome-differentiation acupuncture could obviously improve patient's life quality in the treatment of FD, which is an effective therapy for FD.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the perioperative mortality,stroke rates and late benefits of carotid artery stenting for the treatment of unilateral severe stenosis of carotid artery with contralateral obliteration in a single medical center.Methods Clinical data of 38 cases were analyzed retrospectively,including postoperative period and follow-up.Results The technical success rate was 100％ ( 38/38 )with no peri-operative 30-day mortality or ischemic stroke.The overall peri-operative complication rate was 34.2％ ( 13/38),including transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 5.3％ (2/38).The average follow-up time was ( 29 ± 13 ) months with follow-up rate of 86.8％ ( 33/38 ).The mortality was 0 and the overall complication rate was 12.1％ (4/33),including TIA in 6.1％ (2/33).No patients had recurrent stroke.Twenty-three cases underwent whole brain CT perfusion evaluation before and after the therapy.A significant improvement of the perfusion parameters was observed in the stenotic side after CAS.Conclusions CAS contralateral to an occluded carotid artery can be performed with acceptable perioperative mortality and stroke risk rates,as well as a satisfactory long-term beneficial effect in stroke prevention.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4 on liver metastasis of human colon cancer.

METHODSExpression of CXCR4 in different colon cancer cell lines and SDF-1 in different tissues were detected by using Western-blot technique. Effect of SDF-1 and anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (McAb) on proliferation and migration of HT-29 cells were measured using MTT methods. Model mimicking liver metastasis of human colon cancer was established by injecting HT-29 cells intrasplenically into BALB/C nude mice. Mice were randomly divided into AMD3100 treated group and control group. Liver metastatic rate and tumor foci were measured 7 weeks after.

RESULTSHT-29 cells expressed higher level of CXCR4 protein, and liver tissue expressed higher level of SDF-1 protein. Compared with the control, SDF-1 could significantly induced the proliferation and migration of the HT-29 cells, and anti-CXCR4 McAb could inhibited both functions of SDF-1. The liver metastasis rate in the control group was 100%, and it was 40% in the AMD3100 treating group (P < 0.05). The mean liver metastasis number also significantly decreased by AMD3100 (7.8 +/- 2.6 vs 22.4 +/- 8.6, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSDF-1/CXCR4 biological axis play an important role in liver metastasis of human colon cancer. Arrest of CXCR4 can inhibit liver metastasis of colon cancer through blocking cell proliferation and migration induced by SDF-1.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; secondary ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To observe the serum samples and the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii in treating RA by using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model, make a correlation analysis on concentration-time and effect-time curves, and explore RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in rats by PCR. Methotrexate, tripterine and high-dose T. wilfordii could down-regulate RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in AA rat lymph nodes. The study on PK-PD model showed correlations between inflammatory factors and blood concentration of T. wilfordii. T. wilfordii and its main active constituent tripterine could show the inflammatory effect and treat RA by inhibiting IL-17 cytokine.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tripterygium ; Triterpenes ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

For recent years, the research has been focused on the ina gene application in the field of biological ice nucleation. This paper reviewed the application of ina genes in bacterial cell surface display, construction of reporter gene systems, killing insect pests through induced freezing, sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria contaminating foods, breeding of cold resistant varieties. A brief introduction of the ina gene application in killing insect pests in China was also made in this review.
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Freezing ; Insect Control ; methods ; Pseudomonas ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Research Design

Objective To observe the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4) on the infil-tration of macrophages and the expression of nuclear factor-κB in mice model of unilateral ureteral obstruc-tion(UUO).Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups:injected intra-abdominally with saline-sham-operated group(saline-sham group,n =8),injection intra-abdominally with saline-UUO-operated group(saline-UUO group,n=8),injection intra-abdominally with anti-BMP4-sham-operated group (anti-BMP4-sham group,n=8),and injection intra-abdominally with anti-BMP4-UUO-operated group(anti-BMP4-UUO group,n=8).Either saline or anti-BMP4(group 200 μl/gram of body weight per day) were injected intra-abdominally for 7 days after surgery.Mice were sacrificed at 7th day to evaluate the expression of CD68 and p-P65 by immunohistochemical staining in each group.Besides,the p-P65 protein level was also analyzed by Western blotting in four groups.Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expres-sions of CD68 and p-P65 were significantly reduced in the kidney cortices in anti-BMP4-UUO group than in saline-UUO group(P<0.05,respectively).Similar to that,the p-P65 protein level was significantly reduced in the kidney cortices in anti-BMP4-UUO group than in saline-UUO group(P < 0.05,respectively). Conclusion BMP4 participates in the process of renal interstitial inflammation in obstructive nephropathy, and may play a role through the activation of nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the geometrical characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysms undergoing endovascular treatment in a single medical center.The long-term effects as well as the strategies for the prevention and treatment of complications have been reviewed.Methods From January 2003 to December 2010,clinical data and geometrical parameters of 344 cases undergoing endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms were analyzed retrospectively.Results The diameter and length of proximal neck was (23 ± 3 )mm and ( 26 ± 12) mm respectively.The angle between the neck and the abdominal aortic aneurysm was (25 ± 28) degree.The surgical success rate was 99.7％.The average follow-up time was 32.9 months (3 -84 months) with follow-up rate 81.8％ (279/341).The mortality was 1.1％ (3/279),the re-intervention rate was 10.4％ (29/279) and the overall complication rate was 12.9％ ( 36/279),including endoleak of 5.7％ ( 16/279 ),stent-graft migration of 1.1％ ( 3/279 ),aneurysm expansion or rupture of 5.4％ ( 15/279 ),and other complications like limb occlusion.Severe infrarenal aortic neck angulation ( ＞ 60 degree) was associated with type Ⅰ endoleak ( P =0.010 ).Conclusions A careful preoperative case selection and evaluation is the key for a successful endovascular aneurysm repair.Endoleak continues to be the major long-term complication of the endoluminal grafting technique,and the major cause for re-intervention.Life-long follow-up is extremely important.