Aim To research the protective effect and mechanisms of taurine on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Myocardial ischemia reperfusion models were established in SD rats. The effects of taurine on the size of myocardial infarction and the changes of activity of SOD , and the levels of MDA and NO in myocardium and plasma of rats with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury were observed. Results In rats with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, the taurine could reduce the size of myocardial infarction (P

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Welding ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the bioactivity of five components of the traditional Chinese medicine complex prescription Jiangzhi granules against hepatocellular steatosis.

METHODSThe five major components, including protopanaxadiol, tanshinone IIA, emodin, chlorogenic acid, and nuciferine, were extracted from Jiangzhi granules. Their cytotoxicity was assessed to determine the safe dose of each component for HepG2 cells. HepG2 cellular steatosis was induced using 1 mmol/L of free fatty acids (FFAs) for 24 h, and then treated with each component at high, intermediate, and low doses (500, 50, and 5 μmol/L), respectively for another 24 h. The effects on HepG2 steatosis were observed directly under optical phase microscopy, or through oil red O staining and Nile red assays. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the steatotic HepG2 cells with and without high-dose protopanaxadiol treatment were measured using fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining.

RESULTSNo obvious cytotoxicity was observed in the HepG2 cells incubated with each of the five components at up to 500 μmol/L. At 24 h after incubation with FFAs, the HepG2 cells swelled and many lipid droplets accumulated. The lipid content was attenuated after 24 h of incubation with protopanaxadiol, tanshinone IIA, and emodin at 500 or 50 μmol/L (P < 0.05), especially with 500 μmol/L protopanaxadiol (P < 0.01). In addition, the ROS level was elevated in steatotic cells, but decreased after intervention with 500 μmol/L protopanaxadiol (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONProtopanaxadiol, tanshinone IIA, and emodin alleviate hepatocellular steatosis in a dose-dependent manner, and oxidative stress regulation may partially contribute to the effects of protopanaxadiol.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sapogenins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVES: Using 3-stimulus auditory "oddball" paradigm reflecting fronto/central and temporo/parietal functions simultaneously, we examined patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Fifteen patients with schizophrenia from outpatient clinic and fifteen normal controls from hospital staffs were recruited for the study. To elicit P3a and P3b, 3-stimulus auditory oddball paradigm was employed. The 3-stimulus auditory oddball paradigm was composed of standard tone (1,000 Hz, 75 dB, 80%), target tone (2,000 Hz, 75 dB, 10%) and distracter (White noise, 95 dB, 10%). RESULTS: P3a and P3b were prominent in fronto/central and temporo/parietal areas, respectively, in both schizophrenics and normal controls. The P300 amplitude in patients with schizophrenia was reduced across P3a and P3b (p<0.01). The P300 latency in patients with schizophrenia was delayed across P3a and P3b (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results were consistent with frontal and temporo-parietal lobe dysfunctions in schizophrenics. The 3-stimulus auditory paradigm could be applied for patients with schizophrenia and useful for further exploration the disorder.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Noise ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVES: Using 3-stimulus auditory "oddball" paradigm reflecting fronto/central and temporo/parietal functions simultaneously, we examined patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Fifteen patients with schizophrenia from outpatient clinic and fifteen normal controls from hospital staffs were recruited for the study. To elicit P3a and P3b, 3-stimulus auditory oddball paradigm was employed. The 3-stimulus auditory oddball paradigm was composed of standard tone (1,000 Hz, 75 dB, 80%), target tone (2,000 Hz, 75 dB, 10%) and distracter (White noise, 95 dB, 10%). RESULTS: P3a and P3b were prominent in fronto/central and temporo/parietal areas, respectively, in both schizophrenics and normal controls. The P300 amplitude in patients with schizophrenia was reduced across P3a and P3b (p<0.01). The P300 latency in patients with schizophrenia was delayed across P3a and P3b (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: These results were consistent with frontal and temporo-parietal lobe dysfunctions in schizophrenics. The 3-stimulus auditory paradigm could be applied for patients with schizophrenia and useful for further exploration the disorder.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Evoked Potentials* ; Humans ; Noise ; Schizophrenia*

Axillary interventions, represented by axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), has been a key component in radical surgeries for breast cancer since the proposal of radical mastectomy. ALND substantially affects the quality of life of the patients. In recent years, many studies suggested that axillary interventions may not be necessary for all breast cancer patients, and for early early-stage patients, it brings more harm than benefit. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has provided good guidance to indicate the necessity of ALND, but several studies revealed that not all patients with positive SLNB results benefited from ALND. In this review, the authors summarize the recent progress of researches of these two hot issues.
Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Quality of Life ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma remains a highly chemoresistant neoplasm and is a common malignancy with poor prognosis in Korea. We performed a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of topotecan and cisplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Between November 1999 and May 2001, ten patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled in this study. The median age was 54 (range: 53~74) years and all were male. Six patients demonstrated stage IV, 1 stage IIIC, 2 stage IIIB and 1 stage IIIA. Six patients showed a ECOG performance status of 1. The treatment regimen consisted of topotecan 1.25 mg/m2 and cisplatin 20 mg/m2 for 5 days. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. Toxicities were evaluated according to WHO toxicity criteria. RESULTS: All ten patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. There was only one patient who achieved partial response. The overall response rate was 10% (95% C.I.) and the response duration was 46 weeks. The median survival of all patients was 21 (range: 17~54+) weeks. During a total of 24 cycles, neutropenia of WHO grade 3 and 4 occurred in 33%, thrombocytopenia in 33% and anemia in 21%. In non-hematologic toxicity, diarrhea and hepatoxicity of grade 3 occurred in 1 and 2 patients, respectively. But there was no treatment-related death. CONCLUSION: When used in this dose and schedule, topotecan and cisplatin combination chemotherapy does not seem to be effective for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy ; Cisplatin/*administration & dosage ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Topotecan/*administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of sulfur mustard (SM)-induced acute lung injury in rats through different routes and compare the morphological changes in lung tissue and cells.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six male rats were selected and randomly divided into 5 groups, namely peritoneal cavity SM group (n=32), trachea SM group (n=32), peritoneal cavity propylene glycol group (n=32), trachea propylene glycol group (n=32), and normal control group (n=8). The rats in peritoneal cavity SM group were injected intraperitoneally with diluted SM (0.1 ml, 8 mg/kg), and the rats in trachea SM group were injected intratracheally with diluted SM (0.1 ml, 2 mg/kg). Once the rats were sacrificed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after SM treatment, morphological changes in lung tissue and cells were observed by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn the peritoneal cavity SM group, the epithelial cells of bronchioles maintained intact with increased exudate and bleeding in alveolar cavity and large areas of pulmonary consolidation under the light microscope. In the tracheal SM group, focal ulcer formed in the epithelial cells of bronchioles with increased exudate and bleeding in alveolar cavity, partial pulmonary consolidation, and compensatory emphysema in peripheral alveolar space under the light microscope. The alveolar interval areas were widened obviously in both groups in a time-dependent manner. Under the electron microscope, we observed local loss of cellular membrane in type I alveolar epithelium, broken or lost microvilli in cells of typeⅡalveolar epithelium and fuzzy mitochondrial crista as well as the appearance of ribosome detached from rough endoplasmic reticulum in both two groups. Compared with those in the trachea SM group and the control group, the ratio of the alveolar septum average area to the visual field area in the peritoneal cavity SM group at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h was significantly higher (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lung tissue injury through the intraperitoneal route is more severe than that through the tracheal route, while focal ulceration of bronchioles epithelial cells appears in the case of tracheal route. The degree of injury increases over time in both groups, and the cellular damage is approximately the same in both groups.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Mustard Gas ; toxicity ; Peritoneum ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Trachea

OBJECTIVES: Although forgetfulness is a common complaint among menopausal depressed women, there is still a debate about the relationship between memory impairment and menopause. The aim of this study is to examine whether menopause is related to cognitive decline among women with depressive disorders. We hypothesized that postmenopausal depressed women show generally poorer performance than premenopausal depressed women on various cognitive function tests. METHODS: With a retrospective chart review, we identified a total of 87 female patients (45 premenopausal patients and 42 postmenopausal patients) who were hospitalized with depressive disorders from 2000 to 2016. Demographic and clinical variables and cognitive test results were compared between two groups. RESULTS: ducation year is longer in premenopausal group than postmenopausal group whereas clinical characteristics (illness duration, recurrence, and symptom severity) and mean Intelligence Quotient (IQ) were similar between two groups. The postmenopausal group took longer time for Bender-Gestalt Test (BGT) recall, Trail Making Test (TMT)-A, and TMT-B than the premenopausal group. After controlling for age and education, significant difference was remained for BGT recall (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal state may be related with decline of visuospatial memory function, in particular, among depressed female patients. Other areas of cognitive function including complex attention, verbal memory, auditory memory, and working memory might be interpreted while considering age and education level.
Bender-Gestalt Test ; Cognition* ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Education ; Female ; Female* ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Menopause* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Trail Making Test

OBJECTIVETo establish rabbit model of scoliosis induced with stable asymmetric lumbar loads.

METHODSScoliosis was induced in 10 two-month-old New Zealand rabbits using 316L stainless steel springs placed between the unilateral transverse processes of L2 and L5. Serial radiographs were documented before and at 1, 4, 8, 9 and 12 weeks after the operation. At weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into SR group (n=5) with the spring removed and SK group (n=5) without spring removal.

RESULTSAll the rabbits survived the experiment with Cobb angle all greater than 10 degree at the end of the experiment. Significant changes were found in the Cobb angles and kyphotic angles at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, the Cobb angle, the kyphotic angle and the length of the spring were similar between SR and SK groups (P>0.05), and in the 4 weeks following spring removal in SR group, the Cobb angle and the kyphosis decreased significantly compared with those in SK group (P<0.05). Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV of the concave side was greater than that of the convex side. The length of the spring did not show obvious changes during the experiment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsymmetric lumbar loading is a convenient, time-saving, and highly reproducible approach for establishing rabbit models of scoliosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Scoliosis ; physiopathology ; Spine ; pathology