Objective To explore the effect of triperygium wilfordii polyglucoside(TWP) on the podocytes of rats with diabetes nephropathy(DN). Methods One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (Group A),DN group (Group B),TWP group(Group C).TWP group was divided into 3 subgroups(Ca,Cb,Cc)according to the different doses 4,8,16mg·kg-1·d-1,respectively.Rats in DN group and TWp group were given streptozocin(STZ)by intraperitoneal injection to establish animal model of diabetes.After 12 weeks,24 h urinary protein excretion rate(UAER),BUN,Scr,white blood cell(WBC),blood glucose(Glu),and kidney weight (KW)/body weight(BW)were determined.The renal pathological changes were evaluated by HE staining.The structural change of podocytes was observed by transmission electron microscope.The expressions of nephrin and podocin were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Results (1)Compared to group A,Scr,BUN,Glu,KW/BW,and UAER were significantly higher(P＜0.05)in group B and group C.Whereas the elevated liver enzymes and the decreased WBC were presented in group Cc (3/20). Compared to group A, the protein expressions of nephrin and podocin in nephridial tissue were lower, and the significant differences of pathomorphology in glomerulus,tubules and podocytes were observed in group B and group C. (2) Compared to group B, KW/BW and UAER were lower in group C (P＜0.01); the protein expressions of nephrin and podocin were higher in nephridial tissue; the pathomorphological improvements were exhibited in glomerulus,tubules and podocytes in group C, paralleled with the increase of TWP dose (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusions TWP may exert the protective effect on podocytes in diabetic nephropathy rats,dependent on the dose of TWP. The mechanism may be associated with the up-regulatied expressions of nephrin and podocin.

Objective To study the outcomes of two intervention strategies on the language development of young children with hearing loss greater than moderate degree by universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) system.Methods Infants and young children,born from Jan 2002 to Dec 2007 in Shanghai and failed UNHS,were included in this study.They received audiometric evaluations at the Shanghai Children's Hearing and Speech Center.Among those diagnosed with hearing loss greater than moderate degrees,65 were intervened at 6 months and followed up subsequently.According to hearing loss degree and intervention strategies,20 of 65 were included in the hearing aid group(M_(HA)),19 was in the severe hearing aid group(S_(HA)),9 in the profound hearing aid group(P_(HA)),and 17 in the profound cochlear implamation group(P_(CI)).Other 36 were not intervened at 6 months old but followed up also.The control group was 36 normal hearing young children.The hearing losse and speech development were analyzed for statistical study.Results Between the group without intervention and the control group,between the group intervened and without intervention,statistically significant differences were noted (P＜0.05) in the average hearing threshold and the developmental scores.Between the control group and anyone group among M_(HA),S_(HA) and P_(CI),no statistically significant differences (P＞0.05) were noted in the developmental scores.For the same hearing level between the group P_(HA) and P_(CI),statistically significant differences (P＜0.05) were noted in the developmental scores.The developmental scores of P_(HA) was lower than that of P_(CI).Conclusion Early intervention is effective for infants and young children with hearing loss greater than moderate degree.Their speech development is noticeably faster than that of those without any intervention.According to hearing loss degree,it was very important for acquiring the best speech development that selected the most proper intervention mode.

Objective To study the imaging of inner ear malformations in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL).Methods CT and MRI examinations were performed on children with SNHL diagnosed by audiological test.One hundred and eighty-eight patients with complete imaging information were obtained.The imaging of inner ear malformations was analyzed according to Sennaroglu's classification. Results Thirty-five patients(54 ears) were found with inner ear malformations by CT and MRI,3 of whom(5 ears) were accompanied by outer and middle ear malformations.Among the 35 patients,2(4 ears) were found to be common cavity deformity,1(1 ear) cochlear hypoplasia,13(26 ears) incomplete partition II(Mondini deformity),4(7 ears) vestibule dilation,13(19 ears) semicircular canal deformity and 19(34 ears) large vestibular aqueduct.Internal auditory canal was found narrow in 7 patients(10 ears) and wide in 1(2 ears) with classic Mondini deformity. Conclusion CT and MRI examinations are of great importance to the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear malformations in children with congenital SNHL,especially for the candidates of cochlear implantation.

BACKGROUND:Conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cels (MSC-CM) may represent a promising alternative to MSCs transplantation. Previous studies have shown that inflammatory activation can strengthen the multiple biological potencies of MSCs; however, normal MSCs with insufficiency of immunocompetence and migration ability are not effective for tissue damage repair. OBJECTIVE:To investigate differential effects of MSC-CM with and without inflammatory activation on radiation-induced intestinal injury.METHODS:MSCs from the bone marrow of SD rats were separated, cultured and identified, and then co-cultured with non-irradiated IEC-6 or irradiated IEC-6 in a transwel system for 24 hours. Then, MSCs with inflammatory activation were cultured alone for another 48 hours. After that, the supernatant was colected as non-activated MSC-CM (MSC-CMNOR) and MSC-CM under radiation-induced inflammatory condition (MSC-CMIR). Rats were exposed to 14 Gy whole abdominal irradiation and randomly divided into four groups: control group, radiation injury group (DMEM/F12), MSC-CMNOR group and MSC-CMIR group. Continuous administration was givenvia tail vein and intraperitoneal implantation of Alzet microosmotic pumps. Intestinal samples were colected at 1, 3, 7 days after radiation for analysis of short circuit variation, at 3 days after radiation for analysis of intestinal epithelium ultrastructure, and at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 days after radiation for histological observation of the intestinal epithelium using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Blood samples were colected at 1, 3, 7 days after radiation for analysis of serum xylose levels. In addition, the survival state and survival time of rats were observed and recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The short circuit variation responding to electrical field stimulation was significantly reduced at al frequencies, but it was significantly improved in the MSC-CMIR group. Similarly, the intestinal absorption (serum xylose levels) was also significantly impaired by irradiation, but improved by delivery of MSC-CMIR (P < 0.05). At 3 days after MSC-CMIR infusion, the intestinal epithelium exhibited an increase in crypt size and vilous length (P < 0.05). Under the electron microscope, a reduction in intestinal microvili and open tight junctions in irradiated intestinal epithelium was found, and the intestine from rats treated with MSC-CMIR had more obvious tight junctions. In addition, treatment with MSC-CMIR dramaticaly improved the survival rate and mean survival time of irradiated rats as compared to those treated with DMEM/F12 or MSC-CMNOR (P < 0.05). Taken together, the present study demonstrated that MSC-CMIR , but not non-activated MSC-CM, improves the structural and functional restoration of the smal intestine after radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in the proliferation, growth, invasion, and metastasis of human cancers. Moreover, β-catenin/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) interaction regulates the transcription of the key oncogenes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, β-catenin/TCF4 interaction would be a promising therapeutic target for the development of highly selective anticancer agents. At present, most ongoing small-molecule inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including PKF222-815, iCRT3/5/14, LF3, and sanguinarine, have been developed in preclinical studies for human cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the research advances of up-to date inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction, including the molecular structure and cellular functions of β-catenin in canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This review holds a hopeful avenue for the development of novel and highly selective Wnt inhibitors targeting β-catenin/TCF4 interaction for future anticancer strategy.

Objective To study the prognosis and pre-procedural independent risk factors for pa-tients with no-reflow (NR) phenomenon during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Pa-tients with or without NR phenomenon during PCI procedures from January 2000 to January 2005 were studied retrospectively. The clinical data preoperative and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) between the two groups were compared. Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic analysis were used to select the risk factors for NR phenomenon. Retrospectively was reviewed for (35.8 ± 15.3)months. Results The NR group had more significant incidence of MACE. Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that the predictive factors for NR were (1) Smoke index ≥ 300(OR = 2.81,95%CI: 1.61-4.38 ,P =0.007). (2) Fasting blood glucose level before PCI ≥ 11.1 mmol/L (OR = 3.39,95%CI: 1.51-4.89,P = 0.000 ). (3) Absence of angina pectoris attack within one month before PCI (OR = 2.39,95%CI: 1.22-3.78,P = 0.009). Conclusions The prognosis is poor for the PCI patients with NR phenomenon. Those patients whose fasting blood glucose level before PCI ≥ 11.1 mm01/L, smoke index ≥ 300 and absence of angina pec-toffs attack within one month before PCI have higher incidence of NR phenomenon.

Objective To investigate the application of wall shear stress (WSS) in the carotid sinus of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients,and analyze the spatial distribution of WSS with contrast enhanced flow field (CEFF) quantita tive visualization analysis software.Methods Totally 47 T2DM patients and 25 healthy subjects were investigated.According to the intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA),the T2DM patients were divided into IMT normal group (n=21) and IMT thickening group (n=26).WSS in the carotid sinus was calculated by CEFF analysis soft ware,the corresponding spatial distribution maps of WSS were designed.WSS of the posterior wall of internal carotid artery (ICA) was recorded and statistical analysis.Results Both in the carotid sinus of healthy subjects and T2DM patients,there were two low WSS regions and one high WSS region.There were a large region of low WSS at the posterior wall of CCA and ICA,a small region of low WSS at the anterior wall of CCA,and a high WSS region at the anterior wall of ICA.The WSS at the posterior wall of ICA both in the IMT normal group [(3.39 ± 0.60)dynes/cm2] and IMT thickening group [(2.58±0.46)dynes/cm2] were significantly lower than that in control group ([3.74±0.53]dynes/cm2,both P＜0.05).WSS in IMT thickening group was lower than that in IMT normal group (P＜0.05).Conclusion CEFF quantitative visu alization analysis might constitute an approach to assess the presence of early-stage arteriosclerosis by measuring the WSS in the carotid sinus.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fludarabine and pirarubicin (FT) regimen in the treatment of refractory or relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Methods A total of 40 patients with relapsed or refractory indolent NHL were treated with FT regimen, one cycle for 28 days, total 6 cycles. The data of indolent NHL patients treated with fludarabine, noventrene and dexamethasone (FND) regimen were collected as control. Results 40 patients were given 228 cycles chemotherapy, overall response rate was 62.5 %, median progression-free survival was more than 20 months and 2 years overall survival rate was 70.0 %. The main toxicities was leucopenia (80.0 %), but the incidence of WHO Ⅲ-Ⅳ leucopenia and pneumonia was less than that of in the control group, the rate were 12.5 % vs 29.0 % and 2.5 % vs 23.0 % respectively (P <0.05). Conclusion The efficacy of FT regimen was as good as FND regimen, but the incidence of leucopenia and pneumonia by Ⅲ-Ⅳ was lower in FT group than in FND group. So the FT regimen was an effective and safe second-line salvage regimen for relapsed or refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

With the content of gallic acid, loganin, paeoniflorin and paeonol as the indexes, to screen out dissolution determination conditions, establish the dissolution determination method for multi-index components in Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills, calculate and map the accumulative dissolution curve, and then compare the dissolution of products from different pharmaceutical factories through the similarity factor (f2). According to the results, the optimum dissolution determination conditions were the paddle method, with 250 mL 0.1 mol x L(-1) hydrochloric acid as the dissolution medium, and a rotation rate of 100 r x min(-1). The similarity factor values (f2) of the dissolution curves of the four main components of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories were mostly less than 50. This demonstrated a significant difference in the dissolution of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills from different pharmaceutical factories, and provided scientific basis for improving the equality evaluation of Liuwei Dihuang concentrated pills.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Quality Control ; Solvents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) and Tripterygium wilfordii Polyglycosidium (TWP) on the podocytes in rats with diabetes nephropathy (DN).

METHODSRat models of DN were established and rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (Group A), the DN group (Group B), the CS group (Group C), the TWP group (Group D), and the CS combined TWP group (Group E). The changes of 24-h urinary protein count (24-h pro), blood glucose (Glu), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), white blood cell (WBC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and kidney weight/body weight (KW/BW) were determined 12 weeks later. The renal pathological changes were evaluated by HE staining. The microstructural changes of podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscope. The expressions of nephrin and podocin were detected by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, the levels of SCr and BUN were higher (P < 0.05), Glu, KW/BW, and 24 h pro were obviously higher in Group B (P < 0.01). There were less glomerular disorder, chronic tubulointerstitial damage and glomerular podocyte lesion in Group B. The expressions of the massive cortical nephrin and podocin protein were obviously less in Group B. Compared with Group B, the KW/BW and 24 h pro in Group C, D, and E were lower (P < 0.01). The pathomorphological improvement was exhibited in the glomerulus, tubules, and podocytes. The protein expressions of nephrin and podocin were higher in the renal cortex. Compared with Group C, the KW/BW and 24-h pro decreased in Group D and E, the expressions of nephrin and podocin were enhanced, and the lesions of the glomerulus, tubules, and podocytes were alleviated, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The most significant changes happened in Group E.

CONCLUSIONSCS and TWP could alleviate the DN proteinuria, protect and repair podocytes of DN rats. Its mechanisms might be correlated with up-regulating the expressions of nephrin and podocin. The combined use of CS and TWP could increase the efficacy and attenuate adverse reactions of TWP.

Animals ; Cordyceps ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; pathology ; Male ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tripterygium