Cardioplegic (and organ preservation) solutions were initially designed to protect the myocardium (cardiac myocytes) during cardiac surgery (and heart transplantation). Due to the differences between the cardiac myocytes and vascular (endothelial and smooth muscle) cells in structure and function, the solutions may have adverse effect on coronary vascular cells. However, such effect is often complicated by many other factors such as ischemiareperfusion injury, temperature, and perfusion pressure or duration. In evaluation of the effect of a solution on the coronary endothelial function, a number of points should be taken into consideration. First, the overall effect on endothelium should be identified. Second, the effect of the solution on the individual endothelium-derived relaxing factors (nitric oxide, prostacylin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor) must be distinguished. Third, the effect of each major component of the solution should be investigated. Fourth, the effect of a variety of new additives in the solution may be studied. In the last decades, we have focused our research on the endothelial function during open heart surgery and have for the first time found that high potassium concentration impairs the EDHF-mediated function. This review attempts to discuss the above issues based on available literature in order to provide information for further development of cardioplegic or organ preservation solutions.

Objective To investigate the effect of cardioplegia solution of autologous blood treated with ultraviolet irradiation and oxygenation (UBIO) on myocardial mitochondrion in mongrel dogs underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Twenty male mongrel dogs were randomly divided into a control group and a UBIO group, 10 dogs in each group.The UBIO group was infused with UBIO blood as the cardiac arresting solution via the ascending aorta, while the control group was given the same treatment except that the cardiac arresting solution was blood cardioplegia.Blood samples were taken from coronary venous sinus before cross-clamping and after aorta declamping to measure the levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatinine kinase MB isozyme (CK-MB).For both groups, right atrial myocardial tissue samples were taken to detect the activity of myocardial mitochondrion superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) , and concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) when the right atrium was opened and closed.Results In both groups, the average levels of SOD and GSH-PX were decreased during CPB, and the decrease of SOD and GSH-PX were to a significantly larger extent in UBIO group (P ＜ 0.05).The concentrations of cTnI, CK-MB, and MDA in the control group were increased significantly higher than those in the UBIO group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The attenuated lipid peroxidation of myocardial mitochondria plays an important role in myocardial protection by UBIO as cardioplegia solution in open heart surgery under CPB.

Objective To explore the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) on neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and the mRNA expression level of Notch1 and Hes1 related Notch signaling pathway from neonatal rats in vitro. Methods NSCs from neonatal rats were cultured by serum-free culture method in vitro. Cells were divided into four groups: control group (Hcy-C), low dose Hcy (Hcy-L) group, middle dose Hcy (Hcy-M) group and high dose Hcy (Hcy-H) group. NSCs were iden- tified by immunofluorescent staining using the antibodies against Nestin, β-tubulin Ⅲ and GFAP. The proliferation ability of NSCs was detected by MTT. The mRNA expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 were detected by Real-time PCR. Results In the serum free suspension medium, neurospheres that consisted of a great number of nestin-positive cells were found. β-tu- bulin Ⅲ positive neurons and GFAP positive astrocytes were detected by immunofluorescence staining on the 6 th day of cell induction. MTT assay showed that the cell viability was significantly lower in three Hcy treatment groups than those of con- trol group (P ＜ 0.05). And the effect of concentration-dependent was observed. The results of RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of Hes1 was significantly lower in three Hcy treatment groups than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05). The mRNA ex- pression of Notch1 was significantly lower in Hcy-H group than that of other three groups (P ＜ 0.05). The mRNA expression of Notch1 was significantly lower in Hcy-M group than that of Hcy-L group and control group (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Hcy could inhibit the proliferation of NSCs by down-regulating mRNA expression levels of Notch1 and Hes1 genes related to Notch signal pathway.

Object To study chemical constituents of the root of Isatis indigotica Fort Methods The powdered plant material was percolated with 95% ethanol, the percolate was extracted with different solvents, the extract was subject to chromatography on silica gel column and macroporous resin column. The compounds were identitfied by their physicochemical properties and spectral data (MS, 1HNMR, 13 CNMR, UV and IR) Results Two compounds were obtained from the ethanol extracts of the plant root They are 3 (2′ hydroxyphenyl) 4(3H) quinazolinone and isaindigodione respectively Conclusion The two compounds were obtained from I. indigotica for the first time

The aim of the study is to investigate chemical constituents of the leaves of Pieris japonica. The isolation and purification of the constituents were performed by various chromatography and spectral analysis. Three new phenolic glucosides, erythro-syringoylglycerol 4-O-β-D-glucoside (1),1-(2-β-D-glucopyranoxyl-4-methoxyl-6-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxyl-1-propanone (3),erythro-1-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(3-β-D-glucopyranoxypropyl)-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-1,3-propanediol (4), along with five known phenolic glucosides, syringoylglycerol 8-O-β-D-glucoside (2), magnolenin C (5), syringaresinol mono-β-D-glucoside (6), 3-(4-hydroxyl-3-methyphenyl)-1-propanol-1-O-β-D-glucoside (7) and 3,5-dimethoxyl-4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol 4-O-β-D-glucoside (8) were isolated and identified from the plant leaves. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited significantly (P<0.01) the proliferation of murine T and B cells at concentration of 1×10-6 mol·L-1, in vitro.

Object To extract and separate the chemical constituents from the root of Isatis indigotica Fort (Cruciferae) Methods The root of I. indigotica was percolated with 95% ethyl alcohol, partitioned in solvents of different polarities and finally isolated on silica gel and macroporous resin columns The purified compounds obtained were identified and structurally elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectral analysis Results Two compounds were obtained and named as isaindigotidione (Ⅰ) and (E)-3-(3′, 5′-dimethoxy-4′-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-indolinone Conclusion The two compounds were new

Objective To explore the relationship between the QT dispersion in simple central obesity youth and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods 38 patients with simple central obesity (obesity group) aged from 18 to 35 years, and 34 normal weight healthy control subjects (control group), age-matched were chosen. The blood pres-sure(BP) ,body mass index(BMI) ,waist-hip ratio(WHR) ,QTd,QTcd,plus the ultrasound examination of the inti-ma-media thickness(IMT) of carotid were measured and plaques on the patients' carotid artery were detected. Re-sults Comparing to the control group,BP,BMI,WHR,QTd,QTcd were larger in the obesity group with significant difference (P < 0.05) ; When QT dispersion was > 50 ms, the risk of IMT was higher than that when QT dispersion was < 50 ms (OR = 7.0,P < 0.05). Condnsion In the youth who are simple central obesity, their QT disper-sions are over the normal reference value, intima-media thickness are abnormal; the risk of IMT is higher when QT dispersion is > 50 ms; suggesting that QT dispersion can be one of reference index for forecasting the cardiovascular disease.

Objective To investigate the relationship between QRS wave terminal distortion with coronary arterial lesion and serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) in early stage of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Methods One hundred and twenty patients with STEMI were classified into the QRS wave distortion positive group(QRS+,n=81) and non-QRS wave distortion group(QRS-group,n=39) according to EKG on admission.The two groups all conducted the coronary angiography and hs-cTnI detection.The coronary arterial lesion occurrence situation and hs-cTnI level were compared between the two groups.Results (1) In the QRS+ group:68 cases (83.59％) were male and 13 cases (16.05％) were females;in the QRS-group:27 cases(69.23％) were male and 12 cases (30.77％) were female.The sex difference had statistical significance (P＜0.05).(2) The occurrence rate of left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesion in the QRS+ group was higher than that in the QRS-group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).But the occurrence rate of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) lesion in the QRS-group was higher than that in the QRS+ group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).(3) The hs-cTnI level in the QRS+ group was higher than that in the QRS-group,the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.01).Conclusion The patients with QRS wave distortion positive have a higher occurrence rate of LAD lesion,while the patients with out QRS wave distortion negative have higher occurrence rate of LCX lesion;the QRS wave terminal distortion has relationship with serum hs-cTnI level.

Background Researches showed that triterpenoids,with a similar structure to lanosterol,has therapeutical effect on many systemic diseases,and lanosterol was determined to have a therapeutical effect on cataract recently.However,how the lanosterol plays effects on other eye diseases is still unelucidated.Understanding the distribution of lanosterol in ocular tissue is helpful for us to elucidate the relationship of lanosterol with eye diseases.Objective This study attempted to investigate the distribution of lanosterol synthase (LSS) and lanosterol in cornea,lens and retina tissue of rats and offer a basis for the targeting treatment of eye diseases.Methods Fifteen SPF male SD rats were sacrificed by excessive anesthesia to obtain the eyeballs.The relative expressions of LSS protein and gene in the cornea,lens and retina tissue of the rats were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR,respectively.Immunofluorescence staining technology was used to locate the distribution of LSS in cornea,lens and retina tissue.The contents of lanosterol in the cornea,lens and retina tissue were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS).Results No LSS protein and mRNA was expressed in the retinal tissue in normal rats.The mean relative expression of LSS protein in the lens and cornea was 0.43±0.05 and 0.25±0.03,respectively,showing a significant difference between them (t =-5.35,P＜ 0.01).The relative expression of LSS mRNA was 0.51 ±0.04 and 0.29 ±0.02 in the lens and cornea,respectively,with a stronger expression in the lens in comparison with the cornea (t =-8.34,P＜0.01).Immunofluorescence staining showed that LSS primarily located in corneal epithelial layer,stromal layer and endothelial layer as well as lens epithelial cells and shallow cortex layer and hardly expressed in retina,and no co-expression of LSS with the neuron marked by NeuN and the Müller cell marked by glutamine synthetase (GS) in retinal tissue.LC-MS analysis revealed that the contents of lanosterol in lens and cornea was (24.37 ±2.91) ng/mg and (5.31 ±0.58) ng/mg,respectively,with a significant difference between them (t =-11.13,P＜0.01).Conclusions LSS and lanosterol extensively distribute in cornea and lens of normal rats,but not in retina tissue.These results offer new strategies for the target treatment of relevant eye diseases.

BACKGROUNDTo summarize the clinical results of bronchoplastic procedures and pulmonary artery reconstruction or combined with other resection and plasty of heart, great vessels in the treatment of 304 patients with locally advanced lung cancer.

METHODSFrom February, 1983 to December, 2001, double sleeve resection and reconstruction of bronchus and pulmonary artery, or combined with other resection of heart, great vessels were carried out in 304 patients with locally advanced lung cancer. The operations included double sleeve left upper lobectomy in 199 cases; double sleeve right upper lobectomy in 21 cases; double sleeve right upper middle lobectomy in 14 cases; double sleeve left upper lobectomy combined with resection of left atrium in 8 cases; double sleeve right upper lobectomy combined with superior vena cava (SVC) resection and reconstruction with Gortex graft in 29 cases; double sleeve right upper middle lobectomy combined with SVC resection and reconstruction in 21 cases; double sleeve right upper middle lobectomy, carinal and SVC resection and reconstruction in 11 cases; left pneumonectomy combined right main pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery trunk resection and reconstruction with Gortex graft in 1 case.

RESULTSThere were 3 operative deaths. The operative mortality was 1% in this series. Sixty four patients had operative complications. The operative complication rate was 21.05% (64/304). The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10 year survival rates were 81.75%, 60.14%, 37.21% and 24.39% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDouble sleeve lobectomy or comblined with other resection and reconstruction of heart, great vessels can significantly improve the prognosis and increase the curative rate and long term survival in patients with locally advanced lung cancer.