Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Child ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; genetics ; pathology ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of preoperative low dose intravenous amiodarone in the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods Two hundred patients with coronary atheroselerotic heart disease underwent selected OPCAB and were randomly divided into two groups: control group (100 cases) and experimental group (100 cases). Patients in control group were given conventional medicines and placebo, and patients in experimental group were treated with low dose intravenous amiodarone daily for 4 days before surgery. They were given conventional medicines after surgery. Results After the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, the incidence of AF, ventricular rate and the duration of AF in the experimental group were lower than those in control group [15% vs. 41%, χ2=16.766, P=0.000; (126.0±20.8) times/ min vs. (150.0±25.6) times/ min, t=0.478, P =0. 017; (8. 0±8. 6) h vs. (12.0±9.6) h, t=0. 439, P=0. 019]. No significant difference were found in the incidence of side effect between low close amiodarone group and the control group. Conclusions Prophylactic application of low dose intravenous arniodarone before off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting can safely and effectively reduce the postoperative ventricular rate and the incidence of AF, shorten the duration of AF, promote the rehabilitation and slightly improve the clinical symptoms.

Objective To investigate the apoptotic effects of hypertrophic scar fibroblast (HSF) induced by HMME-PDT.Methods Fibroblasts were cultured from nontreated hypertrophic scars,and cells at passages 4-6 were used for the experiments (photosensitizer dose 4 μg/ml,λ630 nm,pow er density 10 mw/cm2,energy fluence 2.5 J/cm2).Morphological and biochemical changes in fibroblasts were assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining and fluorescence microscopy.The rate of apoptotic or necrotic cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) through double staining of Annexin V -FITC and popodium iodide (PI),respectively.Results Marked morphological features of cell apoptosis were viewed under the fluorescent microscope through Hoechst 33258 staining.The analysis of FCM indica ted that the apoptotic rate was significantly increased after HMME PDT [(34.82 ± I.42) ％ vs (3.12±0.28) ％,P＜0.05],and apoptotic rate was higher than necrosis rate [(14.65±1.02) ％ vs (34.82±1.42) ％,P＜0.05].Conclusions Low level exposure to 630 nm PDT mediated by HMME appears to induce fibroblast apoptosis.

This study is to investigate the anti-allergic effect of anthocyanidin and to explore its possible mechanism. The experiments of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction (PCA) and colorimetry were used to determine the effect of anthocyanidin on degranulation of mast cells in vivo. For in vitro study, various concentrations of anthocyanidin (100, 50 and 25 micromol x L(-1)) were added to the culture medium of mast cells cultured with 100 microg x L(-1) of dinitrophenyl (DNP) specific IgE overnight. The azelastine (100 micromol x L(-1)) was selected as the positive control. The antigen (DNP-human serum albumin, DNP-HAS)-induced release of degranulation was measured by enzymatic assay, histamine was determined by EIA, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by Western blotting, separately. In addition, the effects of anthocyanidin on phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt were observed by Western blotting. The results showed that treatments with anthocyanidin (100 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) were followed by a decrease in PCA of rats. Anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) obviously suppressed the degranulation from mast cells, whereas results from anthocyanidin (100 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) group indicated significant inhibitory effect on histamine, the calcium uptake, TNF-alpha, IL-6, phosphorylation of NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt of mast cells induced by antigen. Anthocyanidin may suppress the anaphylactic reaction by inhibiting the action of mast cells. NF-kappaB, p38MAPK and Akt at least in part contribute to this event.
Animals ; Anthocyanins ; pharmacology ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Histamine Release ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulin E ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.

METHODSeparation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

RESULTIn 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

CONCLUSIONFingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygala ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

Objective To study the genotype of the thyroid hormone receptor ? (THRB) gene in a patient with thyroid hormone resistance syndrome. Methods The peripheral blood samples of the patient and his parents were collected, then DNA was isolated. PCR and direct sequencing techniques were performed to determine if there were mutations in their THRB gene. Results No mutation was found in exon 1-9. There was a point mutation in exon 10 of THRB which is a T to C transition in nucleotide 1658 resulting in the replacement of the normal Val (GTG) with an Ala (GCG) (V458A). The mutation was located in exon 10 of THRB gene and was a heterozygote. No mutation was found in THRB gene of his parents.Conclusion The gene diagnosis confirms that the patient has a mutation V458A located in the ligand binding area of THRB.

AIM: To investigate the effects of in situ transplantation of mobilized autologous bone marrow stem cells on infarction size and cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS:25 patients with first acute myocardial infarction were randomly divided into stem cells in situ transplantation group and control group, 12 patients in stem cells in situ transplantation group were injected subcutaneously with 300 ?g granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) daily for four days in addition to standard therapy. 13 patients in control group were treated with standard therapy alone. The conventional 12 leads electrocardiogram were recorded on 1, 28 days after admission and the cardiac function was scored by the QRS scoring system proposed by Wagner. Furthermore, the infarction size was assessed by radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging 7, 28 days after admission. RESULTS:4 weeks after admission, the QRS scores decreased, the infarction size reduced significantly in the stem cells in situ transplantation group (from 36.0%?8.3% to 18.0%?5.8%, P

Ultrasonic microbubbles were used to open blood-brain barriers (BBB) with a reversed and limited behavior feature in the study, which could improve the brain-targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs. The glioma rat model was prepared. Low-frequency ultrasound was combined with microbubbles to affect the permeability of BBB compared with the permeability of independently administered Evans blue (EB) crossing BBB. Time point and length of ultrasound were investigated whether they affect the permeability of BBB and the damage of brain tissue. The effect of the growth time of glioma on BBB permeability was explored. Only glioma had a very little impact on BBB permeability. However, ultrasonic microbubbles opened the BBB with the features of temporary, limited and reversed behavior and improved EB and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent penetrating BBB. A length of 30 s ultrasound is appropriate for opening BBB and no damage of brain tissue. Drugs should be injected before ultrasound so that they enter into brain as BBB opening. Ultrasonic microbubbles can open BBB effectively and safely, which improve drugs penetrating BBB under proper time point and length.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Contrast Media ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microbubbles ; Permeability ; Rats ; Ultrasonics

Objective To raise the awareness of adrenal Castleman′s disease by analyzing the clinical features and management of a patient with adrenal Castleman′s disease. Methods A case of adrenal Castleman′s disease of our hospital was retrospectively analyzed, including clinical feature, laboratory findings, pathology, treatment, and follow-up. All the data and pertinent literatures were reviewed and analyzed. Results An incidentaloma measuring 4. 8 cm × 6. 3 cm in the right adrenal gland was observed in a 30-year-old men in a ultrasonography examination performed due to a medical check-up. Laboratory analysis showed that the lesion was not hyperfunctioning. The patient subsequently underwent an exploratory laparotomy. Pathological examination revealed retroperitoneally localized Castleman′s disease of the hyaline vascular type. Conclusion Adrenal Castleman′s disease is a rare cause of lymph node hypertrophy, and it is necessary to keep in mind the possibility of its occurrence and take it into consideration in the differential diagnosis of any solitary, heterogeneous, and hypervascular retroperitoneal mass. The proper cooperation between the clinician and pathologist allows early diagnosis and suitable therapy.

Objective To investigate the changing characteristics of myocardial movement in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by three?di?mensional speckle tracking echocardiography(3D?STE). Methods The peak systolic global longitudinal train(GLS),global radial strain(GRS), global circumferential stain(GCS)and global area strain(GAS)of left ventricle were measured by 3D?STE technology in 69 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. According to the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),all patients were divided into group A(35%≤LVEF<50%)and group B (LVEF<35%). The differences of measurements were compared between two groups. The correlation between global myocardial strain in all direc?tions and left ventricular ejection fraction was analyzed. Results The GLS,GRS,GCS and GAS were significantly higher in group A than those in group B(P<0.01). The GLS,GRS,GCS and GAS were correlated with LVEF in group A(r=-0.871,0.610,-0.423,-0.797;P<0.05).The GCS,GRS and GAS were correlated with LVEF in group B(r=-0.517,0.368,-0.438;P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between GLS and LVEF in group B. Conclusion 3D?STE technology can be applied to evaluate the change of the myocardial movement. GLS is a promis?ing marker of the prognosis in patients with DCM.