Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Curcuma ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the effects of small dose of antithymocyte globulin(ATG)and zenapax in the induction therapy for kidney transplant recipients.Methods A series of 150 cadaver-donor kidney transplant recipients were randomly divided to 3 groups,ie,small dose of ATG group(total dose,2.1 -3.0 mg/kg;n=72),zenapax group(50mg,on the first and 14th d after operation;n=15)and controls without induction therapy(n=63).Follow-up was 6 months.The rates of acute rejection,delayed graft func- tion(DGF)and pulmonary infection were statistically compared among the 3 groups.Results During a 6-month period,in ATG,zenapax and control groups,acute rejection episodes occurred in 4 cases(5.5%), 1(6.7%)and 10(15.9%),respectively;DGF occurred in 3(4.2%),0 and 8(12.7%),respectively;pul- monary infection occurred in 4(5.1%),1(6.7%)and 3(4.8%),respectively;leucocytopenia occurred in 3(4.2%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively;thrombocytopenia occurred in 2(2.8%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively.Conclusions In the early stage of kidney transplantation,small dose of ATG and zenapax can be the optimal choice for induction therapy.

Angina, Unstable ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Severity of Illness Index

Objective To explore the origin and etiopathogenesis of antrochoanal polyp (ACP)based on the clinical data.Methods Twenty-six patients with ACP were included in the study.All the ACP patients were documented by preoperative endoscopy and computer tomographic (CT) scans.All patients were treated under endonasal endoscopic surgery.The relationship between polyp in middle meatus and lesions in the antrum was observed during the surgery.Following surgical removal,the polyps and lesions in the antrum were studied under macroscopy and microscopy.Results Among 26 cases with ACP,17 cases were confirmed by preoperative endoscopic examination that polyp originating from antrum ostium,19 cases showed intimate relationship between the polyp and antrum lesions in CT scan,and 23 cases were found that the polyp originating from the antrum cyst.The pedicle of polyp connected the cyst through autrum ostium,and the polyp existed as a part of capsule wall.Conclusion Based on the data obtained,it is tempting to suggest that the ACP mainly develops from antral cyst,an increase in pressure in cyst forced capsule wall to herniate to middle meatus through the antral ostium,and the continuous herniation and hyperplasy leading to the formation of ACP.

Traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma Zedoary ( E'Zhu) contains essential oil, curcuminoid and other effective constituents, with such pharmacological actions as anti-platelet aggregation, lowing blood lipid, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation. In recent years, studies have showed that certain extracts and chemical components of E'Zhu could mitigate myocardial cell mitochondria injury and protect vascular endothelium by enhancing heme oxygenase-1 activity, inhibit nuclear factor NF-kappaB, target genes interleukin-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), tumor necrosis factor receptor-6 (TRAF-6) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), reduce inflammatory infiltration, and inhibit growth factor-induced smooth muscle cells (SMCs) proliferation and migration by impacting oxidation of cellular phosphatases. Due to its different functions in vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, E'Zhu has been applied in drug-eluting stents, with a potential effect in preventing in-stent restenosis and thrombogenesis. In this paper, studies on pharmacological effects and mechanisms of extracts and main chemical constituents from E'Zhu in preventing vascular restenosis were summarized.
Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Stents

Objective To study the characteristics of event-related potentials P300 in patients with anxiety disorder(AD). Methods P300 tests were carried out in 30 patients with AD and 30 healthy adult controls. ResultsPatients with AD had significantly delayed P3 latency ([326?16] ms vs [339?19]ms, P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of astragalus (As) on calcium accumulation and SERCA2a gene expression in left ventricular tissues in rats with pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODcardiac hypertrophy was induced by clipping the abdominal aorta in rats. Male SD rats were allocated to six groups: sham-operrated (Sham), aortic stenosis (Model), model +As-L (5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-M (10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-H (20 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and model + captopril (0.05 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), a positive control). The drugs were administered orally from the 13 th week after surgery. Rats were examined after 12 week treatment with drugs. The cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by left ventricular mass index (LVMI, left ventricular weight/ body weight). The calcium content in left ventricular tissue was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. SERCA2a mRNA and protein expressions in left ventricular tissues were determined by half-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot normalized to abundance of GAPDH mRNA and protein, respectively.

RESULTThe increase of LVMI was dose-dependently lessened by As (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). The effect of As-H was similar to that of Captopril. As markedly attenuated calcium accumulation in myocardial tissure (P < 0.01). RT-PCR and Western blot results demonstrated that SERCA2a gene expressions were downregulated (P < 0.05) significantly in model group compared with sham group. As-H upregulated SERCA2a gene expressions (P < 0.05), whereas Captopril had no effect on that.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibition of As on left ventricular hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats may partly contribute to its attenuation of calcium accumulation and up-regulation of SERCA2a gene expressions in left ventricular tissues.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Heart ; drug effects ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; genetics ; metabolism

Seven acylated triterpene saponins were isolated from the roots of Securidaca inappendiculata by means of various chromatographic techniques such as silica gel, MPLC, preparative HPLC, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified as securioside A(1), securioside B(2), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-4-O-[(E)-3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl]-β-D-fucopyranosyl ester(3), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3) ] -4-O-[(E/Z)-3, 4-dimethoxycinnamoyl]-β-D-fucopyranosyl ester(3/4), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin 28-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-4-O-[(E)-3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl]-β-D-fucopyranosyl ester(5), polygalasa- ponin XLV(6), and polygalasaponin XLVI (7) on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis and physicochemical properties. Among them, compounds 5-7 were isolated from the plants in genus Securidaca for the first time and compounds 3, 3/4 were isolated from the species for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay showed that compounds 2, 3/4, 5 have moderate cytotoxic activities against Lewis lung carcinoma LLC cells with IC50 values of 41.10, 38.17, and 48.92 µmol · L(-1), respectively; compound 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against human breast cancer MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 47.93 µmol · L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Securidaca ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo refine the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 5p15 and screen new tumor suppressor gene(s) in colorectal tumorigenesis.

METHODSSamples of colorectal cancer and normal tissue of 83 cases were collected in this study. Sixteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were analyzed on chromosome 5 and another 6 markers on chromosome 5p15 by PCR. PCR products were electrophoresed on an ABI 377 DNA sequencer. Genescan 3.1 and Genotype 2.1 software were used for LOH scanning and analysis.

RESULTSTwo distinct regions of frequent allelic deletions at D5S416 on 5p15 and D5S428-D5S410 on 5q were detected. Another 6 polymorphic microsatellite markers were applied to 5p15 and the minimal region of frequrent loss of heterozygosity was established on 5p15 spanning the D5S416 locus.

CONCLUSIONA critical and precise location of 5p deletions, 5p15.2-5p15.3, has been detected, which may contain one or more unknown tumor suppressor gene(s) related to colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To clone human NR2B gene, construct its eukaryotic expression vector, and temporarily express it in CHO cells. Methods Human NR2B gene was amplified by RT-PCR and then inserted into eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.1. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into CHO cells. The expression of the target molecule was identified by RT-PCR, Western blotting, indirect immanofluorescent staining and the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Results The NR2B gene was obtained; after transfection, NR2B was successfully expressed in CHO cells, and the expression of NR2B did not induce the apoptosis of CHO cells. Conclusion Human NR2B gene has been successfully cloned and expressed in CHO cells via constructing its eukaryotic expression vector.