The changes of morphology, ATP and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents, xanthine oxidase (XO) activity as well as the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activity of rabbit aortic endothelial cells under hyperoxia (100% O_2) for 0-72 hours were studied. We found that cellular morphological changes including swelling, shape variation after hyperoxia were time-dependent; after a temporarily increasing (24hr)(P

Objective: To observe the L-Arg (L-arginine) transport, the nitric oxide (NO) production, and NO synthase (NOS) activity in platelets, investigate the significance of the L-Arg-NO system in the pathogenesis of microvascular angina (MVA), and to study the reversing effects of intravenous L-Arg infusion on L-Arg transport. Methods: The 3H-L-Arg transport, NO production, and NOS activity in platelets were examined in 15 patients with MVA and 15 healthy controls. The 15 patients were given intravenous L-Arg infusion (20 g/d) after basic physical examination and were examined again 10 days later. Results: The L-Arg transport in platelets of MVA patients was obviously lower than that in the normal group; the maximum transport velocity (Vmax) decreased by 34. 4% compared with the normal group (P<0.01); and the Michaelis constant (Km) increased by 21.4% (P<0.05). The production of NO2- and the activity of NOS in platelets were decreased by 47.1% (P< 0.05) and 25.4% (P<0.05) compared with the normal group, respectively. Intravenous L-Arg infusion reversed the above changes in MVA patients; it increased the Vmax by 11.9% (P<0.01) and decreased Km by 18% (P<0.05); it also increased production of NO2- by 1.33 folds (P<0.05) and NOS activity by 1.2 folds (P<0.05). Especially, the attack of angina and patient ECG were greatly improved after intravenous L-Arg infusion. Conclusion: L-Arg-NO pathway is impaired in MVA patients, which might be responsible for the endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in MVA patients. Intravenous L-Arg infusion may benefit the impaired function of L-Arg-NO transport in patients with MVA.

Objective To explore early diagnostic methods for ulnar impaction syndrome on the basis of suggested criteria.Methods From December 1998 to December 2004,123 cases complained of ulnar pain.They were checked and diagnosed according to the criteria of Yu-dong Gu,and especially,the results of wrist MRL Forty-eight of them were diagnosed as ulnar impactinn syndrome.A retrospective study was done to analyze the char- acteristies of X-ray and MRI in examining ulnar impaction syndrome,clinical symptoms of the wrist,and the association between Chun & Palmer's scoring systems and imaging manifestations.Results Most of the cases of ulnar impaction syndrome had positive lunar variance (68.8%).Carpal avascular necrosis was found in about 27.1% of the cases through X-ray examination of the wrist,64.7% of whom were lunar osteonecrosis.Abnormal changes in signal intensity occurred in the MRI findings of the syndrome cases.The carpal necrosis was always located at the ulnar side of lunare or (and) at the waist and bottom of triquetrum.There was a close relationship between clinical symptoms and Chun & Palmer's grading systems and carpal imaging,MRI in particular Conclusion Early diagnosis of ulnar impaction syndrome can be made easily on the basis of deep understanding of the syndrome,clinical symptoms,and findings of imaging,especially MRI.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of alcohol extract of Plumula Nelumbini (AEPN) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis rats and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSTotally 32 male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the high dose AEPN group, and the low dose AEPN group, 8 in each group. 1,000 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the high dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily, while 500 mg/kg AEPN was given to rats in the low dose AEPN group by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin (ALB) were examined using automatic biochemical analyzer. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (Hyp) in the hepatic tissue were determined using colorimetry. The degree of liver fibrosis was observed by HE staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the normal control group, serum levels of ALT and AST obviously increased and the serum ALB level obviously decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, serum levels of ALT and AST were lowered. and the serum ALB level was higher (all P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the normal control group, collagen deposition was obviously seen in rats' livers of the model group, and pseudolobule had formed; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were serious; contents of Hyp also increased (P < 0.05).After treated by AEPN, collagen deposition was obviously reduced with no obvious pseudolobule; inflammatory activities and fibrosis degrees were alleviated; contents of Hyp were also lowered (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the normal control group, contents of MDA in the liver tissue obviously increased, while activities of SOD obviously decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group. After treated by AEPN, contents of MDA in the liver tissue decreased and the serum SOD level significantly increased (all P < 0.05). (4) Compared with the normal control group, the expression of α-SMA was obviously elevated in the model group (P < 0.05). After treated by AEPN, its expression was obviously lowered (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAEPN could fight against CCl4 induced liver fibrosis in rats. Fighting against lipid peroxidation and inhibi- ting activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells might be possibly main mechanism.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Collagen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

To study the effect of Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) on five types of isozymes of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) of normal and liver fibrosis rats by using the cocktail probe method. Dimethylnitrosamine ( DMN) was injected to induce the liver fibrosis model. After the tail vein injection with Cocktail probe solutions prepared with five CYP450s probe substrates (phenacetin-CYP1A2, omeprazole-CYP2C9, tolbutamide-CYP2C19, dextromethorphan-CYP2D6, midazolam-CYP3A4), the plasma concentrations of the five probe substrates were determined by LC-MS/MS, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by PK solutions 2. After the oral administration with FZHY, normal rats given phenacetin, omeprazole, tolbutamide and dextromethorphan showed increase in AUC(0-t) and decrease in CL to varying degrees, indicating that FZHY obviously inhibited the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in normal rats, but with no obvious effect on the activity of CYP3A4. After the oral administration with FZHY, liver fibrosis rats treated with CYP2C9 showed the significant increase in AUC(0-t) and significant decrease in Vd, hut with no obvious changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of other four types of prove substances, suggesting that FZHY could significantly inhibit the activity of CYP2C9 in rats but had no effect on the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. The changes in the activity of CYP450 isozymes in liver fibrosis rats may be the reason for FZHY's different effects on CYP450 isozymes in normal and liver fibrosis rats.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Anesthesia ; Fiber Optic Technology ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal

BACKGROUNDMultiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant tumor, which takes the second place in malignant blood disease. The clinical symptoms are complicated that make more difficult to diagnose and therapy. Lots of researches focus on the proteins about MM in order to solve those problems. We used proteomic methods to find potential biomarkers in MM patients.

METHODSWe applied the peptide ligand library beads (PLLBs) to deplete high abundance proteins in serum for finding potential pathogenic factors and biomarkers of MM. Using 1D-Gel-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we identified 789 and 849 unique serum proteins in MM patients and in healthy controls, respectively.

RESULTSTwenty-two proteins were found differentially expressed between the two groups including serum amyloid A protein, vitamin D-binding protein isoform-1 precursor, plasma kallikrein, and apolipoprotein A-I. Changes of integrin alpha-11 and isoform-1 of multimerin-1 were validated with Western blotting. The linkage of the differentially expressed proteins and the pathogenesis pathways of MM were discussed.

CONCLUSIONSPLLB combined with 1D-gel-LC-MS/MS analysis is an efficient method to identify differentially expressed proteins in serum from patients with MM.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; Peptide Library ; Proteomics ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

BACKGROUNDAwake fiberoptic intubation (AFOI) is usually performed in the management of the predicted difficult airway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of dexmedetomidine with midazolam (DM) and sufentanil with midazolam (SM) for sedation for awake fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation.

METHODSFifty patients with limited mouth opening scheduled for AFOI were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 25 per group) by a computer-generated randomization schedule. All subjects received midazolam 0.02 mg/kg as premedication and airway topical anesthesia with a modified "spray-as-you-go" technique. Group DM received dexmedetomidine at a loading dose of 0.5 μg/kg over 10 min followed by a continuous infusion of 0.25 μg·kg-1·h-1, whereas Group SM received sufentanil at a loading dose of 0.2 μg/kg over 10 min followed by a continuous infusion of 0.1 μg·kg-1·h-1. As necessary, since the end of the administration of the loading dose of the study drug, an additional dose of midazolam 0.5 mg at 2-min intervals was given to achieve a modified Observers' Assessment of Alertness/Sedation of 2-3. The quality of intubation conditions and adverse events were observed.

RESULTSThe scores of ease of the AFOI procedure, patient's reaction during AFOI, coughing severity, tolerance after intubation, recall of the procedure and discomfort during the procedure were comparable in both groups (z = 0.572, 0.664, 1.297, 0.467, 0.895, and 0.188, respectively, P > 0.05). Hypoxic episodes similarly occurred in the two groups, but the first partial pressure of end-tidal CO2after intubation was higher in Group SM than that in Group DM (45.2 ± 4.2 mmHg vs. 42.2 ± 4.3 mmHg, t = 2.495, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth dexmedetomidine and sufentanil are effective as an adjuvant for AFOI under airway topical anesthesia combined with midazolam sedation, but respiratory depression is still a potential risk in the sufentanil regimen.

Adult ; Conscious Sedation ; methods ; Dexmedetomidine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fiber Optic Technology ; methods ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; methods ; Male ; Midazolam ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Sufentanil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Wakefulness

OBJECTIVEThis review aimed to summarize the relationship between intestinal microbiota metabolism and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to propose a novel CVD therapeutic target.

DATA SOURCESThis study was based on data obtained from PubMed and EMBASE up to June 30, 2015. Articles were selected using the following search terms: "Intestinal microbiota", "trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)", "trimethylamine (TMA)", "cardiovascular", and "atherosclerosis".

STUDY SELECTIONStudies were eligible if they present information on intestinal microbiota metabolism and atherosclerosis. Studies on TMA-containing nutrients were also included.

RESULTSA new CVD risk factor, TMAO, was recently identified. It has been observed that several TMA-containing compounds may be catabolized by specific intestinal microbiota, resulting in TMA release. TMA is subsequently converted to TMAO in the liver. Several preliminary studies have linked TMAO to CVD, particularly atherosclerosis; however, the details of this relationship remain unclear.

CONCLUSIONSIntestinal microbiota metabolism is associated with atherosclerosis and may represent a promising therapeutic target with respect to CVD management.

Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; physiology ; Humans ; Methylamines ; metabolism