ObjectiveTo investigate the role of myocardial calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in a rat model of high-level spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsEighteen healthy male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 2 groups:sham operation group(group S,n ＝6) and SCI group(n ＝ 12).SCI model was induced by dropping a 10 g weight onto spinal cord (C7) in freely vertical falling along the hollow glass tube from 5 cm height.The blood samples were taken 12 and 24 h after SCI in group SCI and 12 h after SCI in group S,and serum activity of creatine kinase(CK) and MB isoenzyme of creatine kinsse(CK-MB) were measured.Then myocardium specimens were obtained for uhrastructure examination and determination of CaSR mRNA and protien expression by fluorescence quantitative RCR and Western blot.Results Serum activities of CK and CK-MB and CaSR mRNA and protein expression were higher in group SCI than in group S.Serum activity of CK and CaSR mRNA expression were higher,and serum activity of CK-MB was lower at 24 h after SCI than that at 12 h after SCI.There was no significantly difference in CaSR protein expression between the two time points in group SCI.The ultrastructure examination showed that myocardial injury was found in group SCI.ConclusionThe expression of CaSR is up-regulated after SCI in rats,which might be the mechanism of myocardial injury after SCI.

The powder X-ray diffraction Fourier fingerprint pattern technique was used to develop a new quantitation method for the analysis of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide. And the high performance liquid chromatography method was used to evaluate the quantity of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide. The relationship of diffraction peak intensity and content of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide was investigated. The powder X-ray diffraction Fourier fingerprint pattern analysis technique can be used to evaluate the quantity of andrographolide and dehydroandrographolide in the herb simultaneously.

Objective To study the influence of autoblood cardioplegia on ATPase in neonatus myocardium with congenital heart disease and approach the mechanism of self-blood cardioplegia in protecting the myocardium in neonatus.Methods There were 30 cases of neonatus with congenital heart disease with body weight less than 8 kg,including 2 cases of ventricular septal defect(VSD),11 of VSD with severe pulmonary hypertension(PH),9 cases of USD with ASD,2 cases of atrial septal defect (ASD),6 of VSD and FPO.30 neonatus were divided into autoblood cardioplegic solution group(group A,n=10),allograft blood cardioplegic solution group (group B,n=10)and crystalloid cardioplegic solution group(group C,n=10).The biopsies were taken from right atrium just before arrested and after heart self-recovery to measure ATPase.Results Comparing with preoperative one,Na+-K+-ATPase creased obviously after operation in group A,B ,C (P＜0.05 ).There had no significant difference among the three groups before operation (P＞0.05).After operation,myocardial cell's Na+-K+-ATPase,Ca2+-ATPase and Ca2+Mg2+-ATPase in group A were decreased obviously as compared with that in group B and C (P＜0.05).Conclusion There is slight influence of autobloed cardioplegia on ATPase in neonatus with congenital heart disease,which can give a good protection to the myocardium in neonatus.

Objective To investigate the metabolite features of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats in vitro by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HR-MASNMR).Methods A total of 30 Wistar rats were randomized into ANP group ( n = 20) and control group ( n = 10).All the rats in ANP group were injected with L-arginine 2.5mg/g body weight twice, and the animals in the control group received same dose of saline. HR MASNMR was used to study the metabolic changes of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats in vitro. Results 12 hours after the ANP induction, the pancreas were more swelling, presented with bleeding points, with mild increase in liquefied change, coagulation necrosis could be found in parenchyma and a large number of fatty tissues could be seen around the pancreas. Serum amylase level was ( 3527 ± 429 ) U/L, which was significantly higher than ( 1250 ± 188 ) U/L in control group.Compared with those in the control group, the signal intensity of taurine ( Tau), acetic acid ( Ace), alanine (Ala) of the ANP group were significantly increased. While the signal intensities of phosphocholine (Pc),glycerophosphocholine (GPc) and betine (Bet) were significantly decreased. The signal intensities of choline (Cho), glutamic acid (Glu), lactate (Lac) were not significantly different. Conclusions There were obvious metabolic features of pancreatic tissues of ANP in rats, and it is useful for the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in AP in vivo in human studies.

Objective To investigate the effect of creatine phosphate sodium on myocardial protection and calcium-sensitive receptor (CaSR) expression following high-level spinal cord injury.Methods Thirty healthy male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were assigned to sham operation,12-hour injury,24-hour injury,12-hour injury followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of creatine phosphate sodium,and 24-hour injury followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of creatine phosphate sodium according to the random number table,with 6 rats in each group.High-level spinal cord injury was induced at C7 segment by dropping a 10 g weight falling freely along the hollow glass tube from a 5 cm height.Level of blood troponin Ⅰ (cTnⅠ) was measured.Myocardial tissues were collected to study ultrastructure of myocardial cells under transmission electron microscope and CaSR expression using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting.Results cTnⅠ level was (0.031 ±0.002) U/L and (0.026 ± 0.001) U/L in 12-and 24-hour injury groups,but it was reduced to (0.023 ± 0.002) U/L and (0.018 ± 0.006) U/L at the same time point in treatment groups (P ＜ 0.05).Whereas either in injnry or treatment groups,cTnⅠ level was higher than (0.004 ± 0.002) U/L in sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).CaSR mRNA level was (0.991 ±0.146) × 10-3 and (1.245 ±0.204) × 10-3 in 12-and 24-hour injury gronp and decreased to (0.880 ± 0.096) × 10-3 and (0.782 ± 0.138) × 10 3 at the same time point in treatment groups (P ＜ 0.05),but all were higher than (0.437 ± 0.065) × 10-3 in sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).CaSR protein expressed in 12-and 24-hour injury group was (0.627 ±0.066) × 10 3 and (0.809 ±0.154) ×10 3 and lowered to (0.505 ±0.176) × 10-3 and (0.524 ±0.138) × 10-3 at the same time point in treatment groups,but all were higher than (0.331 ± 0.102) × 10-3 in sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated normal myocardial ultrastructure in sham operation group but impairment in injury groups,but the impairment was significantly improved in treatment groups.Conclusion Creatine phosphate sodium can decrease cTnⅠ level,attenuate the damage to myocardial ultrastructure and down-regulate CaSR after high-level spinal cord injury.

The primary premature ejaculation (PPE) is a common male sexual disorder. We proposed a novel behavioral therapy for PPE through regular penis-root masturbation (PRM). Nine heterosexual men with PPE completed the self-controlled study. After a 3-month PRM training, the median intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) increased from 60 s to 180 s (P = 0.018), and the mean Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) score decreased from 14.8 ± 3.7 to 12.8 ± 4.1 (P = 0.074). Five out of eight patients had the prolonged dorsal nerve somatosensory evoked potential (DNSEP). The results suggest that PRM has a short-term therapeutic effect. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate the efficacy.

Aim TostudytheeffectsofCuO,ZnOand TiO2 nanoparticles on the viability and metastatic po-tential of EC-9706 and EC-109 esophageal squamous carcinomacelllineinvitro.Methods Characteristics of CuO,ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles were detected u-sing transmission electron microscope (TEM)and dy-namic light scattering (DLS ).EC-9706 and EC-109 cells were treated with different concentrations of CuO, ZnO and TiO2 (5 ~80 mg · L-1 ).The cell prolifera-tion was analyzed by MTT assay.The cell cycle and apoptotic rates were determined by flow cytometry (FCM).The cell invasion was assayed in Transwell chambers.The expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 pro-tein in cells was detected by Western blot method.Re-sults CuO,ZnOandTiO2nanoparticleswerespheri-cal with primary particle size 12,20. 6,12 nm.The particles were agglomerated in water and cell culture medium with negative charge.CuO and ZnO nanoparti-cles induced decreases in EC-9706 and EC-109 cell vi-ability dose-dependently.After exposed to increasing concentrations of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles,the cell cycle analysis revealed a decreasing proportion of cells in G2/Mand S phase,and up-regulation of the cells in G0/G1 phase.Apoptotic cells also increased along with decreased cell invasion upon CuO and ZnO treatment. Nanoparticles treatment after 48 h, the activated caspase-3 expression quantity increased significantly and the Bcl-2 expression quantity decreased obviously (P<0. 05 )compared with control group.TiO2 nanop-articles had no obvious effect on the EC-9706 and EC-109 cell proliferation,cell cycle,apoptosis and inva-sion.Conclusion ComparedwithTiO2,CuOand ZnO nanoparticles can inhibit EC-9706 and EC-109 cell viability and metastatic potential,the mechanism of action involves cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.These findings can help the development of nanoparticles as anti-cancer therapeutics for esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of Peperomia tetraphylla.

METHODThe constituents of EtOAc-soluble portion were isolated and purified by chromatography. Their structures were identified by spectral features.

RESULTSix amides were isolated and identified as, aristololactam All (1), aristololactam B II (2), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (3), N-trans-sinapoyltyramine (4), N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine (5), N-p-coumaroyltyramine (6).

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Amides ; analysis ; Peperomia ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo describe the characteristics of child pedestrian traffic injuries among aged 0-14 years old in Guangzhou city and to provide information on road, vehicle and human injuries in pedestrian.

METHODSA database of all motor vehicle crashes involving child pedestrian traffic injury cases over a five-year period (2000-2004), was from the police department.

RESULTSThe annual pedestrian traffic injury rates on incidence, mortality and case fatality were 17.63/ 1,100,000, 1.78/ 100,000 and 10.07% respectively. Both incidence rate and mortality peaked in the 5-9 age group were 26.80/ 100,000 and 2.57/ 100,000, with case fatality peaked in the 0-4 age group (13.29%). For males, the incidence (20.98/ 100,000) and mortality (2.00/ 100,000) were higher than that in females (13.83/ 100,000, and 1.52/ 100,000). The main injured parts of body would include multi-areas (40.34%), head (26.75%) and lower limbs (21.53%). 10.07% of the cases died and 66.18% and 23.75% of them having had severe and slight injures. The major causes were due to drivers (57.50%) and pedestrians (33.47%) faults with top three responsible vehicles were cars (40.14%), two-wheeled motorcycles (34.38%) and vans (22.15%).

CONCLUSIONData from pediatric pedestrian injury poses a threat to children and adolescents, data suggesting that it is important to change behaviors of both drivers and pedestrians.

Accidents, Traffic ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

This study aimed to determine whether aldosterone could induce vascular cell apoptosis in vivo. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: vehicle (control), aldosterone, aldosterone plus eplerenone or hydralazine. They were then implanted with an osmotic mini-pump that infused either aldosterone or the vehicle. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly by the tail-cuff method. After 8 weeks, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and renin activity (PRA) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Aortic apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. The levels of cytochrome c and caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by immnuohistochemistry and Western blotting. The results showed that as compared with control group, aldosterone-infused rats exhibited: (1) an increase in SBP; (2) significantly elevated PAC with depressed PRA; (3) elevated aortic vascular cell apoptosis accompanied with higher levels of cytochrome c and activated caspase-3; and (4) significantly up-regulated Bax protein with down-regulated Bcl-2. These effects of aldosterone were significantly inhibited after co-administration with eplerenone but not with hydralazine. It was concluded that aldosterone induced vascular cell apoptosis by its direct effect on the aorta via mineralocorticoid receptors and independently of blood pressure, which may contribute to aldosterone-mediated vascular injury.