Objective To investigate the correlation between the distribution of lesions on MRI and the findings of computerized tomography angiography (CTA) in patients with posterior circulation infarction.Methods Patients with acute posterior circulation infarction were enrolled in the study.The sites of the infarcts were divided into proximal,middle and distal infarctions according to the results of MRI.All the patients received head and neck CTA.The correlation between the distribution of posterior circulation infarcts and the sites of vertebrobasilar system lesions was analyzed.Results A total of 203 patients with acute posterior circulation infarction were enrolled.Their primary clinical symptoms and signs were unilateral limb weakness (n =77,37.93％),dizziness (n =129,63.55％),dysarthria (n =31,15.27％),nausea and vomiting (n =61,30.05％),headache (n =79,38.92％),gait abnormal (n =50,24.63％),nystagmus (n=34,16.75％),and ataxia (n=21,10.34％).Proximal infarction (n=35,17.24％):medullary infarction (n =28,13.79％),posterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction (n =7,3.45％); middle infarction (n =95,46.79％):pontine infarction (n =80,39.4％),anterior inferior cerebellar infarction (n =15,7.39％); distal infarction (n=73,35.96％):middle cerebral infarction (n=6,2.96％),superior cerebellar infarction (n =16,7.88％),thalamic infarction (n =34,(16.75％),occipital lobe infarction (n =10,4.93％),temporal lobe infarction (n =7,3.44％).Extracranial vertebral artery lesions were most common in the distal infarction group.It reached 53.42％,and was significantly higher than 22.86％ in the proximal infarction group (P =0.003) and 33.68％ in the middle infarction group (P =0.010).Intracranlal vertebral artery lesions were most common in the proximal infarction group.It reached 57.14％,and then followed by the middle infarction (41.05％).They were all significantly higher than 15.07％ in the distal infarction group (all P =0.000).Basilar artery lesions were most common in the middle infarction group.It reached 20.00％ and was significantly higher than 4.11％ in the distal infarction group (P=0.002).Posterior cerebral artery lesions were most common in the distal infarction group.It reached 27.40％ and was significantly higher than 5.71％ in the proximal infarction group (P =0.009) and 5.26％ in the middle infarction group (P=0.000).Conclusions The range of vascular lesions of the distribution of lesions shown on MRI and the findings of CTA on vertebrobasilar artery system in patients with posterior circulation infarction had some connection.During the proximal and middle infarctions,the possibility of having intracranial vertebral artery lesions was greater; during the distal infarction,the possibility of having extracranial vertebral artery and posterior cerebral artery lesions was greater.

Endoscopy ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spine ; surgery

A new benzaldehyde, 3-hydroxy-4-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl) phenoxy) henzaldehyde(1), together with six known compounds, including isovanillic acid(2), pyrocatechol(3), glutinosalactone A(4), chrysoeriol(5), apigenin(6) and luteolin(7) were isolated from aerial part of Rehmannia glutinosa. The compounds were isolated by macroporous resin, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC chromatographies. The chemical structures of 1-7 were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR).
Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

To investigate the effect of Jiawei Foshou San and its various combined administration on hepatic P450 enzyme activity and hepatocyte morphology in rats. Rats were orally administered with drugs for four weeks and then sacrificed to prepare liver microsomes. The liver microsomes were incubated with the cocktail method; The metabolites were determined with the rapid liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the hepatocyte P450 enzyme activity. In addition, the hepatic pathological changes were observed by using the hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Compared with the control group, the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in the Jiawei Foshou san group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid + ligustrazine group and the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05) ; the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 in the ligustrazine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid group showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05). After the administration with various drugs, the hepatocyte morphologies in the ferulic acid group and the ligustrazine group were normal. The pathological changes were observed in the tetrahydropalmatine group, such as unclear boundary of hepatic lobules, disordered hepatic cell arrangement, blurred edge, anisokaryosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The ferulic acid + tetrahydropalmatine group, the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group and the Jiawei Foshou San group also showed inflammatory infiltration, but with less pathological changes, particularly the Jiawei Foshou San group. The study result shows that Jiawei Foshou San can induce the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, and ligustrazine may be the effective substance for inducing CYP1A2. Its combination with ferulic acid and ligustrazine can significantly reduce the liver toxicity of tetrahydropalmatine.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the common resource of Chinese herbal medicine in western of Luoding City, Guangdong Province, and propose pertinent suggestions concerning the exploitation,utilization and conservation of the medicinal resources.

METHODSWith plant taxonomy method, we selected the JiaYi town as the center for local common Chinese herbal medicine resources, ecological environment and non-governmental investigation of medicinal.

RESULTSThere were 123 species of medicinal plants in Jiayi Town, including pteridophyte 11 species, gymnosperm 5 species, dicotyledon 97 species,and monocotyledon 12 species.

CONCLUSIONThis region has an excellent ecological environment and forest plant communities preserved relatively intact suitable for the growth of Lingnan Chinese herbal medicine, as well as a profound cultural background of folk medicine. The resources should be actively protected for further rational development and utilization.

China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of host-derived p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase subunit 38 (p38MAPK) and the hepatitis B virus X antigen (HbxAg) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to study the mechanism underlying hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODSLiver tissues were biopsied from healthy individuals and patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, paratumor cirrhosis, and HCC. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect expressions of HBxAg, p38MAPK, cell cycle G2/M phase-related factors (cdc25B, p34cdc2, cyclin B1), and cell proliferation factor ki-67.The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method (known as TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTSThe highest rates of HBxAg were detected in CHB (65.0%) and HCC (44.4%) liver samples, and the antigen was mainly expressed in nuclei. Increasingly higher rates of p38MAPK, cdc25B, cyclin B1, and p34cdc2 expression were detected with increases in disease severity: normal liver (40.0%, 20.0%, 20.0%, and 30.0%, respectively), chronic hepatitis B (60.0%, 65.0%, 40.0%, and 50.0%, respectively), liver cirrhosis (65.0%, 75.0%, 70.0%, and 55.0%, respectively), paratumor cirrhosis (66.7%, 75.0%, 75.0%, and 63.9%, respectively), and HCC (77.8%, 80.6%, 80.6%, and 72.2%, respectively). In addition, the intracellular location of p38MAPK expression was different under different disease conditions, showing nuclear expression in CHB and liver cirrhosis samples and cytoplasmic expression in paratumor cirrhosis and HCC samples (x2 = 1.11, P more than 0.05). The proliferation index (PI) and the apoptosis index (AI) were both increased along with disease severity (normal more than CHB more than paratumor cirrhosis more than HCC) (PI: 0.0000+/-0.000, 0.0502+/-0.011, 0.0411+/-0.009, 0.0762+/-0.017; AI: 0.0351+/-0.024, 0.0607+/-0.022, 0.0562+/-0.013, 0.0716+/-0.011), with the notable exception for liver cirrhosis (PI: 0.1810+/-0.036 and AI: 0.1200+/-0.018). PI in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.2285+/-0.062) was significantly higher than in well-differentiated HCC (0.1216+/-0.032, t = 2.082, P = 0.044). AI in well-differentiated HCC (0.152+/-0.026) was significantly higher than in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.081+/-0.022, t = 2.129, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSIn the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, HBxAg may cause a series of abnormal changes in cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis by affecting the expression of p38MAPK.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor CCI-779 on the chemosensitivity of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3.

METHODSProstate cancer cells PC-3 were cultured and treated with CCI-779, Paclitaxel and combination of the two. Then the inhibitory effects of the three medications on the growth of the PC-3 cells were determined by MTT, and the their cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the three medications all significantly inhibited the proliferation of the PC-3 cells, and the combined method even enhanced the effect. Flow cytometry showed that CCI-779 and Paclitaxel blocked the cell cycle mainly in the G1/G2 stage, while the combined medication mainly in the G0/G1 stage. Significantly increased apoptosis of the PC-3 cells was observed in the three medication groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCCI-779 can inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells and enhance the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Male ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Sirolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between plasma fat and glucose, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and genotypes of GR and ACTHR genes in healthy Chinese Han subjects.

METHODSTwo hundred healthy subjects were analyzed for GR and ACTHR gene polymorphisms using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Plasma lipid, glucose, cortisol, ACTH levels were determined and correlated with the genotypes.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found between plasma lipid and glucose levels and various GR and ACTHR genotypes. Subjects with AG genotype of GR 5556A/G polymorphism had lower plasma cortisol levels than AA genotype. Compared with subjects with GG genotype of GR 4534-4536GAG/AAA [GAGAGG (GluArg)>GAAAAG(GluLys)] polymorphism, those with AG genotype had significantly lower plasma cortisol levels. Subjects with CC and CG genotypes of GR 6294C/G polymorphism also had significantly lower plasma cortisol levels compared with those with GG genotype. With regard to plasma ACTH levels, those with TT genotype of ACTHR 2T/C polymorphism were significantly lower than CC and CT genotypes, and those with AG genotype for GR 5556 A/G polymorphism were also significantly lower than AA genotype.

CONCLUSIONThere was no difference in plasma cortisol and glucose levels between subjects with GR and ACTHR gene variants. GR gene variants (5556A/G, 4534-4536GAG/AAA and 6294C/G polymorphisms) may influence plasma cortisol level, and ACTHR 2T/C, GR 5556A/G polymorphisms may decrease plasma ACTH level.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; genetics ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; genetics ; Lipids ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; genetics