Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Brain Ischemia ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; pathology ; prevention & control

Objective: To investigate the possible role of astrocytes after brain infarction in stroke-prone, spontaneously hypertensive (SHR-SP) rats and the association with angiogenesis and the architecture. Methods: We maintained SHR-SP rats on high sodium water starting to accelerate the stroke onset. The 3D quantification of microvasculatures (diameter, branch number) by cofocal microscope after FITC-dextran was injected into the rats via the left femoral vein. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and microvessel density (MVD) using counting the number of factor -positive endothelial cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results: Cerebral infarction occurred at week 7 after high sodium water intake (13 g/L NaCl) in SHR-SP group. When compared with the non-infarcted contralateral hemisphere and SHR-SP on normal sodium intake and WKY rats, GFAP expression and MVD were significantly increased, respectively, and the diameter and the branch number of vessels were decreased, respectively, in cerebral infarcts with boundary zones of SHR-SP rats (P<0.01). Linear correlation analysis showed that GFAP expression was positively correlated with MVD and the diameter and the branch number of vessels in cerebral infarcts in SHR-SP (P<0.01). Conclusion: Astrocytes hyperplasia may be associated with increased regional angiogenesis and the changes of architecture in SHR-SP rats with high sodium water (13 g/L NaCl) that induces focal cerebral infarcts.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of adult osteofluomsis in the endemic fluomsis areas in Tianjin and to provide scientific foundation for endemic fluorosis.Methods Stratified sampling in 55 villages were selected in 3 areas with slight,moderate and severe fluorosis regions in Tianjin from April to June in 2008.Water fluorine were tested and clinical osteofluorosis examinations were conducted to the population aging 16 and above in the villages.Tweenty villages were selected randomly in the slight,moderate and severe fluorosis regions.X-ray osteofluorosis examination were conducted to patients and suspected patients in these 20 villages.Results The geometric mean fluoride content in the water for the 3 areas were 1.35 mg/L,3.44 mg/L,5.49 mg/L,respectively.The prevalence of osteofluorosis were 36.7%(44/120),20.6%(33/160),39.4%(43/109),respectively.The prevalence of osteofluorosis Was increased gradually(r=0.534,P<0.01)and the symptoms and signs of the disease were more serious(H=84.813,P<0.01).The prevalence of X-ray diagnosis Was increased gradually(r=0.990,P<0.01)and signs of the disease were more severe(H=25.169,P<0.01)with an increase in age.There was no statistical significance of prevalence rate of osteofluorosis between males and females,regardless if it Was a clinical diagnosis(X2=0.343,P>0.05)or an X-ray diagnosis(X2=3.532,P>0.05).Conclusions Adult osteofluorosis to a certain extent is still prevalent in the fluorosis areas in Tianjin.Endemic fluorosis is still rampant.Improving water in fulorosis areas should be mandatory.

This paper introduced an experimental study of polylacticacid (PLA) nanoparticles of lipophilic anti-cancer herb drug using a precipitation method. Cucurbitacins (Cu) and Curcuminoids (Cur) were selected to be model drugs. They had similar solubility but their incorporation effects were significantly different: the average drug entrapment ratio, the average drug loading and the average drug recovery were 38.53%, 2.21% and 27.02% respectively; while those of Cur-PLA-NP were 94.36%, 14.35% and 91.23% respectively. To analyse the reason, drug incorporation process was investigated. By measuring solvent evaporation rate, ratio of drug PLA precipitates, drug distribution in system and entrapping ratio at different time of preparation, we found the difference of precipitation velocity of drug was the main reason. We also concluded that not all lipophilic drug can be well entrapped into PLA nanoparticle by nanoprecipitation method. The drug incorporation depended on the interations among drug, PLA and organic solvents, in addition to the solubility of the drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Cucurbitacins ; chemistry ; Curcumin ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; Particle Size ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1) on secretion of adhesive molecules mediated by ox-LDL in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSHUVECs with different concentration of ox-LDL (0, 10, 20, 50, 100 microg/ml) were incubated for 24 h, or HUVECs were pretreated with 250 microg/ml poly (I) or 250 microg/ml carrageenan for 2 h and then incubated with 50 microg/ml ox-LDL for another 24 h. Expression of LOX-1 was determined by realtime RT-PCR and Western blot. mRNA and protein of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSIncubation of HUVECs with ox-LDL (10-100 microg/ml) enhanced the expressions of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01). On the contrary, ox-LDL did not affect the expression of VCAM-1 by HUVECs. The expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin induced by ox-LDL were reduced in HUVECs pretreated with 250 microg/ml poly (I) or 250 microg/ml carrageenan for 2 h and then incubated with 50 microg/ml ox-LDL for 24 h. This showed that both poly (I) and carrageenan obviously decreased the expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin induced by ox-LDL.

CONCLUSIONox-LDL may upregulate the expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, and LOX-1 blocker may partly inhibit this upregulation. The results suggest that the expression of inflammatory molecules induced by ox-LDL in HUVECs is mediated by LOX-1.

Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cells, Cultured ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Oxidized LDL ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

This paper introduced an experimental study of the preparation of polylacticacid (PLA) nanoparticles of cucurbitacin (CuC) using a precipitation method. The residual acetone, ratio of CuC PLA precipitates, and the relationships between the ratios of two precipitates and drug incorporation rates were measured. It appeared that the nanoparticles with 60% of PLA incorporated with 5.5% of CuC were formed when acetone was injected into the aqueous phase. As the acetone gradually evaporated, drug incorporation/encapsulation continued, with most of CuC (about 70%) formed new crystalline cores and suspended in the form of microcrystals in the medium, resulting a suspension containing both nanoparticles and microcrystals. We also concluded that this system may not necessarily be suitable for all lipophilic drugs to be prepared to PLA nanoparticles with good incorporation rate. The drug incorporation depended on the interactions among drug, PLA, and organic solvents, in addition to the solubility of the drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; Chemical Precipitation ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Cucurbitacins ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Lactic Acid ; Microspheres ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; Triterpenes ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of three lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants in lamivudine-treated Chinese patients.

METHODSUsing three pairs of of HBV polymerase gene B and C domain fragments were amplified by PCR. The PCR products were then digested by restriction enzyme Nde I and Nla III. The digested products were analyzed by electrophoresis. With this method, the prevalence of the three lamivudine-resistant mutants in lamivudine-treated Chinese patients was investigated.

RESULTSAfter Nde I digestion of p24 and p29 amplified product, HBV wild type could be easily separated from YMDD mutant. At the same time, YIDD could be separated from YVDD mutant after Nla III digestion of p24 and p29 amplified product. By this method, the authors found that these eleven patients were infected with lamivudine-resistant mutants. Six of them were infected with M5501 mutant; five were infected with M550V mutant (one of them had both M550V and L526M mutations).

CONCLUSIONThe method of the present study was demonstrated to be an easy way to detect HBV lamivudine-resistant mutants and can be applied to clinical monitoring of lamivudine resistance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; drug therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the associations between paraoxonase, 55 Met/Leu (PON1 55 Met/ Leu), paraoxonase2 148 Ala/Gly (PON2 148 Ala/Gly) and manganese superoxide dismutase 9 Ala/Val (MnSOD 9 Ala/Val) genetic polymorphisms and coronary heart disease (CHD), plasma activities of paraoxonase (PON), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), MnSOD, as well as plasma concentration of maleic dialdehyde (MDA).

METHODSUsing PCR-RFLP method to identify genotype of PON1 55 Met/Leu, PON2 148 Ala/Gly and MnSOD 9 Ala/Val genetic polymorphisms, and using colorimetry to detect plasma activities of PON, T-SOD, MnSOD and plasma concentration of MDA in 262 CHD patients and 100 controls.

RESULTSCompared with controls, the plasma activities of PON [(349.27 +/- 138.36 vs. 454.75 +/- 166.00) nmol x min(-1) x ml(-1), P < 0.001], T-SOD [(23.61 +/- 16.51 vs. 44.01 +/- 22.68) U/ml, P < 0.001] and MnSOD [(21.56 +/- 13.11 vs. 28.79 +/- 8.65) U/ml, P < 0.001] reduced obviously,while plasma MDA concentration increased markedly [(2.47 +/- 0.73 vs. 2.15 +/- 0.55)nmol/ml, P < 0.01] in CHD patients. There were more LM genotype and Met allele of PON, 55 Met/Leu (24.8% vs. 1.4%, P < 0.001 and 12.4% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.001, respectively), GG and AG genotype and G allele of PON2 148 Ala/Gly (11.8% vs. 5.0%, P < 0.001, 48.1% vs. 24.0%, P < 0.001 and 36.0% vs. 17.0%, P < 0.001, respectively) and AA genotype, A allele of MnSOD 9 Ala/Val genetic polymorphisms (64.2% vs. 43.0%, P = 0.001 and 80.0% vs. 67.0%, P = 0.014, respectively) in CHD patients than in controls. The activities of plasma PON and T-SOD were lower in individuals with PON1 55 LM genotype than those with LL genotype. The activity of plasma PON was also lower in individuals with PON2 148 GG/AG genotype than those with AA genotype. The activities of plasma PON and MnSOD depressed in individuals with MnSOD AA genotype compared with those with VV genotype. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that PON1 55 LM genotype, PON2 148 GG/AG genotype and G allele were independent risk factors for CHD.

CONCLUSIONThe antioxidative ability decreased, while lipid superoxide increased in CHD patients. Gene polymorphisms of PON1 55 Met/Leu, PON2 148 Ala/Gly and MnSOD 9 Ala/Val seemed to involve in the morbidity of CHD by influencing the plasma activities of PON and MnSOD.

Aryldialkylphosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Coronary Disease ; enzymology ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap with partial preservation of abdominal rectus muscle based on the anatomic study in cadavers.

METHODS5 adult female cadavers which provided by department of anatomy of Fujian Medical University were dissected after injection with medical red latex from the starting point of the inferior epigastric artery and superior epigastric artery. The TRAM flap with partial preservation of lateral abdominal rectus muscle were dissected for breast reconstruction. The location, route, branches and anastomosis of inferior and superior epigastric arteries were observed. Based on the anatomic study, breast reconstruction were performed in 8 cases with muscle-sparing TRAM flaps.

RESULTSThe inferior epigastric artery arises from external iliac artery (9/10, 90%) or femoral artery (1/10, 10%) at the joint point between the internal third and lateral two third. There are extensive anastomoses between superior and inferior epigastric arteries above the umbilicus, mostly between the 2cm below the first tendinous intersection and umbilical level. From Sept. 2009 to Sept. 2010, 8 cases received breast reconstruction with muscle-sparing TRAM flap. The patients were followed up for 3 months to one year. Fibrosis happened in subcutaneous fat at flap IV zone in 2 cases, borderline necrosis and subcutaneous fat liquefaction occurred in some areas of flap IV zone in 2 cases, which healed after debridement. The other 4 cases healed with no complication. Except for unsatisfied shape in one case, good result achieved in 7 cases. There was no abdominal weakness, hemia or other complication.

CONCLUSIONSIt is an effective and safe method in breast reconstruction with muscle-sparing TRAM flap. It is practical with comparatively short operation time and less morbidity in donor site.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Rectus Abdominis ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps