OBJECTIVETo study changes of plasma ADMA levels of patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to explore the effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza (SM) on them.

METHODSTotally 52 patients with confirmed NSTEMI undergoing PCI were randomly assigned to the SM treated group and the control group, 26 in each group. Patients in the SM treated group received the conventional therapy plus SM (1 g each time, three times per day till one month after PCI). Those in the control group only received the conventional therapy. Plasma ADMA levels were measured before PCI, and at day 1 and 30 after PCI.

RESULTSPlasma ADMA levels in both group obviously decreased at day 30 after PCI with statistical difference (P < 0.01). The decrement was more obviously seen in the SM treated group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with NSTEMI undergoing PCI could have plasma ADMA levels decreased. Administration of SM just before PCI might be associated with negative regulating plasma ADMA levels.

Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

·AIM:To present a case of late onset bilateral keratectasis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses with a brief review of literature on this subject.·METHODS:A 27-year-old woman underwent bilateral uneventful LASIK for moderate myopia. Preoperative cycloplegic refractions were -5.50/-0.50×50° right eye (OD) and - 4.50/-1.00×15° left eye (OS).Corneal pachymetry was 526μm OD and 541μm OS, Preoperative corneal topography was normal and did not reveal any keratoconus or forme fruste keratoconus.Following the creation of flaps with 160μm plates,ablations of 102μm OD and 86μm OS were performed,estimated to leave residual stromal beds of 264μm OD and 295μm OS.·RESULTS:Twenty-nine months postoperatively,the patient developed bilateral inferior keratectasia of -12.50/-4.00×160° OD and -6.00/- 4.25×125° OS.Visual acuity was reduced in both eyes;the central cornea had steepened; and pachymetry showed central corneal thinning.Keratectasia was diagnosed,and rigid contact lenses were fitted.Three years later,the patient achieved satisfactory visual acuity and all-day lens wear with minimal complications.·CONCLUSION:Late keratectasia may follow LASIK for low to moderate myopia despite a thorough preoperative work-up.Rigid contact lenses can offer a safe,reversible option for improving visual acuity in such patients by delaying or avoiding the need for intracorneal ring segments implanting or penetrating keratoplasty.

Based on the structure and function of acupoint and in association of the definition and principle of sensor, the acupoint is the sensitive element, being sensitive to the physical stimulation with acupuncture and moxibustion and sensitively responded to the disorders; the acupoint is the sensing element, transforming the changes of the acupoint information via the complicated internet conduction, integration and regulation, so as to generate the effects on organic body; the acupoint is the conversion element, transforming every irritation into the bioelectric signal or optical signal so that the organic body could recognize it. Therefore, the acupoint is regarded as the sensor of information in the organic body.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Humans ; Meridians

Objective:To summarize our experience in perioperative anesthetic management for fulminant hepatic failure (FHF)patients receiving liver transplantation.Methods:The clinical anesthetic data of 48 FHF patients receiving orthotopic liver transplantations(OLT)from January 2006 to January 2007 were retrospectively analyzed,and the anesthetic management expe- rience was summarized.General anesthesia was applied;the hemodynamics was monitored during the operation and doses of adrenaline and phenylephrine were adjusted according to the monitoring results.Blood samples were obtained before operation, before anheptic,30 min after anhepatic phase,5 min before neohepatic phase,and 5 min,30 min and 60 min after neohepatic phase for blood gas and electrolyte analysis and for determination of coagulation function;the drugs were subsequently adjusted according to analysis results.Results:All the 48 patient underwent successful anesthetic management and there was no death dur- ing opearation.The average blood loss during operation was(5 219?478)ml.Mild alkalosis,hypokalemia,hyponatrium,and hy- pocalcemia were present before operations,pH,BE and HCO_3~- were obviously reduced 30 min after anhepatic phase and in- creased 60 min after neohepatic phase.Kalemia was obviously increased 30 min following anhepatic phase and began to increase 60 min following neohepatic phase.Calium concentration was decreased at the end of preanhepatic phase(P

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Qianyang Recipe (QYR) on the Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome (GYHS), the blood pressure, and correlated vascular regulatory factors of hypertension rat.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the QYR group, ten in each. Hypertension rat model of GYHS was prepared using Aconiti Praeparata Decoction plus ephedrine plus salt water. Rats in the QYR group orally took QYR physic liquor, while distilled water was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. They were medicated for 28 successive days. The facial temperature, the grip strength, and the systolic pressure were determined once every 7 days. Rats' irritable degree and feather color were observed and recorded once every 14 days. After the last administration the plasma renin (PR), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone (ALD), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (cGRP) were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group of the same phase, the facial temperature of rats in the QYR group significantly decreased on the 14th, 21th and 28th day after administration. The systolic pressure obviously decreased on the 21st day after administration. On the 28th day after administration symptoms such as irritability, dry hair were improved, and the Ang II level decreased. There was significant difference in all these changes (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSQYR could relieve GYHS rats' symptoms such as facial hotness, irritability, dry hair, and so on, and decrease the systolic pressure. Decreased Ang II level might be one of its mechanisms.

Aldosterone ; blood ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; blood

Animals ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Lung Injury ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism(T-RFLP) is a resent molecular approach that can assess subtle genetic differences between strains as well as provide insight into the structure and function of microbial communities. This method overcomes the confinement of conventional culture-dependent methods and has both high sensitivity and throughput making it ideal for comparative analyses. Though there is still no application in our country, more and more investigators are highlighting it. In this article, the fundamental principle of this technique is introduced. The recent application and the development of this technique are also summed up .

Background and purpose:Ara-C is one of the most effective and common agents in the treatment of acute nonlyphocytic leukemia. Telomerase is a unique complex of ribonucleoprotein. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of cancer. In this study, we investigate the changes of mRNA expression of telomerase subunits in HL-60 cells induced by Ara-c and try to come up with a theory that could help to assess the efficacy of Ara-C. Methods:The combinations of various Ara-C concentration and the incubation time were used to treat HL-60. The ratios of apoptotic cell to necrosis cell were determined by flow cytometry and the expressions of telomerase subunits mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR.Results:① There was no influence on transcription of telomerase subunits gene after HL-60 cells was cultured with 0~0.2ug/ml Ara-C for 12 hours;② 2ug/ml and 10ug/ml of Ara-C could down regulate the expression of hTERT from 0.80+0.07 to 0.50+0.04 and 0.39+0.03, not hTR and hTP1;③ with longer incubation with 10ug/ml of Ara-C, the percentage of apoptosis could be increased. The maximal induction of apoptosis (18.16+4.25%) could be reached at 12hrs treatment of Ara-C, then gradually decreased later on. The rate of necrosis increased with time, the maximal percentage(57.94+12.03%) of necrosis was observed at 48hrs of incubation time with drug. The mRNA level of hTERT gene also decreased along with the cultured time , the lowest value (0.18+0.03) has been documented at 48hrs time point, but not hTR、TP1.Conclusions:① Ara-C could down-regulate the expression of hTERT mRNA in a dose-and time-dependent manner, but not hTR、hTP1;② There might be no relationship between the percentage of apoptosis induced by Ara-C apoptosis and the expression of telomerase hTERT gene mRNA, but a close relationship between necrosis and the expression of hTERT mRNA has been found.

Objective:To explore clinical and histopathological characteristics of primary biliary cirrho-sis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome.Methods:Clinical data and pathological findings of 10 pa-tients were reviewed.Results:Serum glutamine transpeptidase,alkaline phosphatase levels,alaninetransaminase,aspartate transaminase,serum IgG and IgM were elevated in all the patients.They were allpositive for anti-mitochondrial antibody and AMA-M2.Nine patients were positive for anti-nuclear anti-body and one patient was positive for anti liver-kidney microsome antibody.Liver biopsies in these pa-tients revealed:ten patients had bile duct lesion,hepatitis activities ranged from moderate to severe,andfibrosis ranged from S1 to S3.Conclusion:PBC-AIH overlap syndrome is mostly found in middle-agedwomen.It has the clinical and histopathological characteristics of both PBC and AIH.Accurate andprompt diagnosis of overlap syndrome patients should be based on the clinical presentation,biochemicaland immune indexes,and hepalic pathological changes.

0.05).Mean time for lesion healing in immunocompromised and immunocompenent mice was 36.8 d and 29.0 d respectively(P0.05).Conclusions Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis may lead to dissemination of the infection in immunocompromised mice and our data suggest that skin is a possible route for dissemination of cryptococcal infection.