The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of sequoyitol (Seq) on expression of eNOS and NOX4 in aortas of type 2 diabetic rats. Type 2 diabetic rats induced by high fat and high sugar diet and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg x kg(-1)) and were administered Seq (12.5, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 6 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were tested. Acetylcholine (Ach) induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced endothelium-independent relaxation were measured in aortas for estimating endothelial function. Aortic morphological change was observed with HE staining. The level of serum insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO levels in aortas were determined according to the manufacturer's instructions. In addition, the expressions of eNOS and NOX4 in aortas were measured by immunohistochemisty, real-time PCR or Western blotting. The results showed that Seq significantly decreased FBG and insulin resistance, and improved aortic endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation function. The expressions of NOX4 and MDA content were obviously decreased, while the expression of eNOS, the levels of NO and T-AOC increased significantly in aortas of diabetic rats with Seq treatment. In conclusion, Seq protects against aortic endothelial dysfunction of type 2 diabetic rats through down-regulating expression of NOX4 and up-regulating eNOS expression.
Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Inositol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of sequoyitol (Sep) on high glucose-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury.

METHODSHUVECs were cultured with high glucose (30 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of sequoyitol (0.1, 1 and 10 micromol/L) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured by BrdU marking and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to evaluate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The NO, malonydialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 levels were determined by colorimetric method according to the manufacturer's instructions. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSIn the present study, we found that sequoyitol pretreatment for 1 h significantly decreased cell injury, promoted cell proliferation. Meanwhile sequoyitol significantly down-regulated NOX4 expression and decreased the level of ROS, MDA and H2O2 and obviously increased NO levels and up-regulated eNOS expression.

CONCLUSIONSequoyitol alleviates high glucose-induced cell injuries in HUVECs via inhibiting oxidative stress and up-regulating eNOS expression.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; toxicity ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Inositol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the early clinical effects of Activ C cervical disc replacement (ACDR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single-level cervical spondylosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 76 patients with single-level cervical spondylosis underwent surgery from July 2009 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 28 patients were treated with ACDR (ACDR group), including 18 males and 10 females, aged from 32 to 62 years old with an average of (45.2±6.2) years; and 48 patients were treated with ACDF (ACDF group), including 28 males and 20 females, aged from 33 to 60 years old with an average of (45.8±6.4) years. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, Short Form-36 (SF-36), imaging data were used to assess the clinical effects after operation.

RESULTSA total of 76 patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of 13.2 months. VAS of neck pain and brachialgia were improved in all patients after operation (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between two group (P>0.05). Somato-score and psycho-score of SF-36 of two groups were obviously increased (P<0.05), ACDR group was better than that of ACDF group (P<0.05). In ACDR group, there was no significant difference in the range of motion of surgical segments and adjacent segments between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05); heterotopic ossification around the edge of vertebral body occurred in 1 case on the 6th month after operation, no fusion was found on the 1st year after operation. In ACDF group, the adjacent vertebral disease occurred in 1 case and the patient underwent the reoperation.

CONCLUSIONActiv C cervical disc replacement can reduce the degeneration of adjacent segments and its early outcomes for the treatment of single-level cervical spondylosis are satisfactory, but the long-term effects still need study.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Total Disc Replacement ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe mainfestations of syndrome and biochemical indices of hypertensive model rats with excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (EAPDS), and to explore its possible pathological mechanism.

METHODSEAPDS rat model was prepared in 50 Wistar rats by feeding with high fat forage. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 10 Wistar rats was set up by feeding with normal forage. After 25-week continuous feeding, 22 rats with body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) exceeding 25% those of the control group were selected as a model group. BW, BP, blood lipids, and related serological indicators were detected in all rats. Morphological changes of target organs were observed. mRNA expression levels of leptin receptor (LepR), Janus kinase2 (Jak2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (Socs3), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K), serine threonine kinase (Akt), nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κBp65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α (IKKα), NF-kappa-B inhibitor β (lKKβ), NF-kappa-B inhibitor α (IKBα), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of AT1 and LepR in aorta were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BW, BP, and blood lipids increased; serum levels of leptin (Lep) , Ang II, Hcy, ET-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and p2-MG increased, but NO decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Aortal endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation occurred in the model group, accompanied with heart and renal injury. Compared with the control group, mRNA expression levels of LepR, Jak2, Stat3, Socs3, AT1 , PI3K, Akt, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IKBα, and AMPK in aorta were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05), while the expression of IKKa decreased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochem- ical staining showed, brownish yellow deposit of AT1 and LepR was obviously increased, with more extensively positive distribution. Western blot results showed, as compared with the control group, protein expression levels of AT1 and LepR obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModel rats exhibited typical syndromes of EAPDS. They put up weight with fat abdomen, gloomy hair, poor appetite, hypersomnia, lowered activities , reduced food intake, loose stool, dark red tongue, white tongue with white, thick, greasy fur. Lep could be taken as one of objective indicators for evaluating hypertension rat model with EAPDS.

Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; blood ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus and evaluate their clinical significance. Methods All 8 cases of ectopic pituitary adenoma occurring in the sphenoid sinus were verified by pathology. CT and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results The lesions occurring in the sphenoid sinus showed no continuity to the intrasellar pituitary gland. The lesions with a well-defined margin showed an oval shape in 3 cases, and an irregular shape in 5 cases. The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 20 to 46 mm. On non-enhanced CT, lesion appeared as an isointense mass in 7 cases and a slight hypointense mass in one case. Two cases showed relatively homogeneous moderate enhancement on enhanced CT. The lesions resulted in adjacent bony displacement, remodeling and sclerosis of varying degree. In addition, 5 cases displayed local bony invasion. The bony sellar floor was observed to be intact in 3 cases while bony destruction was displayed in 5 cases. On MR T1WI, ectopic pituitary adenoma revealed isointense signal compared to gray matter in 6 cases and slight hypointense signal in 2 cases. On T2 WI, the lesions showed slight hyperintense singal in 2 cases and isointense signal in 6 cases. The signal of these lesions was inhomogeneous. The stippled and thinly stripped hypointense signal on T1WI and hyperintense signal on T2WI corresponded to the enlarged gland lumen of ectopic pituitary adenoma histopathologically. MR imaging demonstrated mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement. A cribriform-like pattern was found on enhanced T1 WI in all of these cases. The time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging showed rapidly enhancing and slow washout pattern in 2 cases. The Lesions were found to associate with empty sella in 5 cases, encase adjacent cavernous sinus in 5 cases, and invade the clivus in 4 cases. Conclusions Scattered hyperintense bubbles and strips on MR T2WI and cribriform-like appearance on enhanced T1WI were typical manifestations of ectopic pituitary adenoma in the sphenoid sinus. Combined findings of CT and MRI can provide us with more comprehensive information in both diagnosis and therapy.

tumors.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the application of low molecular weight heparin combined with alteplase for thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI),and to compare its thrombolysis effect with traditional anticoagulant-general heparin. Methods 35 AMI patients with alteplase intravenous thrombolytic therapy were divided into two groups,among which 15 cases in the study group were treated with 30 mg enoxaparin instant intravenous injection before thrombolysis,40 mg enoxaparin hypodermic injection 15 minutes after thrombolysis,40 mg enoxaparin hypodermic injection every 12 hours for 5 days. The other 20 cases were assigned to the control group and treated with 4 000 u(or 60 u/kg)general heparin instant intravenous injection,then pumped general heparin intravenously in the rate of 800-1 000 u/h. Meanwhile,detected coagulation convention every 3 hours and adjusted the dose of heparin according to the activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT)to keep APTT value within 1.5 to 2.0 times(50-70 s)the standard value. 48 hours later,patients in the control group was given hypodermic injection of 40 mg enoxaparin every 12 hours for 5 days. All cases were given regular treatment as guidelines recommended. Results The patency rate of infarct-related coronary artery assessed by unified clinical criteria was 86.66% and 65.00%,and the average recanalization time was(1.62±0.36)h and(1.81±0.33)h in the study and control groups,respectively. There were no significant differences on patency rate and recanalization time between the two groups(P > 0.05). One case of bleeding complication occurred in the study group(6.66%),while five cases occurred in the control group(25.00%). In the two groups,no cases appeared intracranial hemorrhage and other serious or fatal bleeding occurred. Conclusion The clinical efficacy of low molecular weight heparin was non-inferior to general heparin in AMI patients with alteplas thrombolysis. The application of low molecular weight heparin was simple and easy to operate. It can optimize the procedure of thrombolysis,reduce repetitive coagulation index monitoring and lessen clinical workload,which is worth being promoted to primary hospital and the emergency systems.

OBJECTIVETo inquire into the relationship between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene D9N, N291S and S447X polymorphisms and the development of cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RLFP) techniques were used to detect three common mutations of LPL gene exon D9N, N291S and S447X in 157 obese children and 175 normal controls. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels between children with different genotypes were compared.

RESULTSThe D9N and N291S gene mutations were not detected in either the obese or the control groups. There were no significant differences in the frequency of S447X gene mutation between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the levels of plasma lipid and lipoprotein between children with S447 and X447 genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSD9N and N291S gene mutations may not be risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity. S447X gene mutation might not play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in childhood.

Adolescent ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Obesity ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the cultured supernatant of human silicotic alveolar macrophages (AM) on the expression of the collagen type I in human embryonic lung fibroblasts.

METHODSHuman alveolar macrophages were collected from a silicotic patient by bronchoalveolar lavage and exposed to silicon dioxide for 18 h. Then the cultured supernatant were used to culture human embryonic lung fibroblasts for 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h. Then detected collagen anabolism and secretion with (3)H-proline detected the expression of the procollagen type I in the fibroblast with immunological method detected the quantity of collagen Type I in FB supernatant with Western blot.

RESULTSThe anabolism and secretion of collagen were increased in cultured supernatant of silicotic AM exposed to SiO(2), Along with the time, the expression of collagen type I increased. In cultured supernatant of silicotic AM exposed to SiO(2), ((3)H-proline: 1096.500 +/- 76.400, 707.000 +/- 62.160, OD: 0.314 +/- 0.011, OD: 14.218 +/- 0.342.

CONCLUSIONSiO(2) may affect the expression of collagen through AM mediation and participate in the formation of lung fibrosis.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; immunology ; Male ; Silicosis ; immunology