AIMTo observe the injured effect of homocysteine (HCY) on cardiomyocytes and investigate its signal transduction mechanism as well as the key regulatory link.

METHODSCardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal Wistar rats. After incubation with HCY, the survival rate of cardiomyocytes was determined by trypan blue stained assay, while the apoptosis rate was measured by TUNEL and FCM. Western blot and EMSA were used to tested ERK2 protein phosphorylation and NF-kappaB active expression in cardiomyocytes, respectively.

RESULTSThe survival rate of cardiomyocytes treated with HCY was reduced significantly in dose- and time- dependent manner. It was found that 10(-3) mol/L HCY could increase the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes to the peak (7.65%) at 4 h stress. Several HCY levels revealed the strong inhibitory effect on ERK2 protein phosphorylation, especially, 10(-3) mol/L HCY decreased the level of active ERK2 expression to 3.04% of control at 4 h (P < 0.01). NF-kappaB activation was also inhibited significantly by several HCY level for different time in cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONHCY plays an important role in injury of cardiomyocytes and apoptosis is a form of HCY-induced injury to cardiomyocytes. HCY can block ERK2 protein phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation, which contribute to the injury of cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction

Fournier gangrene is a relatively rare clinical critical disease, and its clinical symptoms are not specific and easily unrecognized by some clinicians. It has the features of acute onset, quick development, severe illness, and often accompanied by infection shock which is seriously life-threatening. It is difficult in treatment with high medical costs and long length of hospitalization, which increases pain for patients and relatives and brings heavy economic and psychological burden on patients, society, and medical workers. By reviewing the literature home and abroad and combined with clinical practice, I summarize the researches on concept, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of Fournier gangrene, in order to provide reference for vast number of clinical workers.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of an extract of Guipi Pill () against radiation-induced damage.

METHODSA total of 100 Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive drug group (treated with radioprotective agent "523", 5 mg/kg at 24 h before irradiation) and two treatment groups, with 20 mice in each group. The extract of water extraction-alcohol precipitation (WAP) from Guipi Pill were administered orally to the mice in the two treatment groups at the dose of 500 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 days prior to whole body radiation (8 Gy). Fifty mice with 10 in each group were used to observe the survival rate 30 days after radiation. The other 50 mice with 10 in each group were sacrificed on day 10 after radiation (6 Gy) in order to take blood, liver and unilateral femur.

RESULTSPretreatment prior to irradiation with WAP resulted in a significantly higher 30-day survival rate of mice after exposure to a potentially lethal dose of 8-Gy radiation. WAP could significantly increase the total white blood cell count and DNA content of bone marrow, and it also increased the activity of various antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissue of mice, which were reduced by radiation treatment. Maleic dialdehyde level and bone marrow micronucleus rate were significantly reduced by WAP, which were increased after 6-Gy radiation.

CONCLUSIONWAP of Guipi Pill could increase the 30-day survival rate and the antioxidant capacity as well as protect bone marrow in mice. WAP of Guipi Pill is an effective radioprotective agent.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Chemical Precipitation ; DNA ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Survival Analysis ; Water

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dispensing is the final step of TCM used for clinical treatment, the stability of TCM dispensing is the guarantee of good clinical effect. Establishment of effect-constituent equivalence for Chinese herbal pieces based on clinical efficacy, can not only guarantee the stability of TCM dispensing, but also relate to the precision of clinical effect. This study chose Coptidis Rhizoma as the model, established effect-constituent equivalence of Coptidis Rhizoma, based on the effect-constituent index already established by our research group, and taking into consideration of homogeneity of clinical dosage and compliance of decoction, the uniformity of dispensing for different specification of Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces was studied. This research model was then applied to guide the specification-optimization of Coptidis Rhizoma and its clinical dispensing. The result indicated, effective constituent equivalence could reflect the fluctuation of specification, dosage and decoction to the fluctuation of efficacy; Optimized Coptidis Rhizoma decoction pieces had the characteristic of high homogeneity as for clinical dispensing, good compliance as for decoction, and high effective constituent equivalence. In conclusion, effective constituent equivalence could improve relevance of methods of TCM dispensing control to clinical effect. Preparated Superior-standard Decoction Pieces based on effective constituent equivalence was featured by good quality and a good practice of adjustable dosage, which could promote the development of TCM decoction pieces toward precision medicine.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Therapeutic Equivalency

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of the protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage hepatitis B immuno-globulin (HBIG) to prevent HBV reinfection and of the treatment for HBV reinfection after liver transplantation.

METHODSFrom December 2000 to May 2003, 11 patients (follow-up is more than 1 year) had been transplanted due to HBV related end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma. All patients received the protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage HBIG to prevent HBV reinfection after liver transplantation. Lamivudine was administered for more than 2 weeks. Preoperatively patients with HBV-DNA(-) and HBeAg(-) accepted HBIG 2000 IU intramuscular injection. Patients with HBV-DNA(+) or HBeAg(+) before operation accepted HBIG 4000 IU intramuscular injection, and patients with both HBV-DNA(+) and HBeAg(+) before operation accepted HBIG 6000 IU intramuscular injection. All patients took long-term lamivudine postoperatively. They accepted HBIG 800 IU/d for 1 week after transplantation. Two weeks after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that the titer of HBsAb was higher than 500 IU/L, but lower than 1000 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for 6 months. 6 months after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that tite of HBsAb higher than 300 IU/L but lower than 500 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for 6 months. One year after operation, dosage of HBIG was adjusted so that tite of HBsAb was higher than 100 IU/L but lower than 300 IU/L, and this treatment lasted for a long time. Examinations of liver function, HBV-DNA and hepatitis B were regularly taken. To observe the early turning to be negative rate, the later HBV reinfection rate, and the efficacy of the treatment for HBV reinfection.

RESULTSHBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA in all patients turned to be negative in 1-4 days after operation. All patients responded to HBIG, and level of titer of HBsAb was elevated gradually. All patients was alive during the observation time. The regular examination of HBsAb showed that of HBsAb was in line with our expectation. Hepatitis B recurrence occurred in 1 patient 25 months after transplantation. Through using adefovir and adding the dosage of HBIG, the hepatitis B is in control.

CONCLUSIONSThe protocol of combination of lamivudine with low dosage HBIG proved to be highly effective and safe in preventing the recurrence of HBV after liver transplantation. It also reduced the cost obviously.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Immunoglobulin G ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Failure ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Secondary Prevention

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively evaluate the effects of Gamma knife in the treatment of cerebral hemangioblastomas.

METHODSFrom 1993 to 1996, seventeen patients with 29 hemangioblastomas were treated with Gamma knife. The patients mean age was 35 years (range: 16 - 61 years). The mean tumor diameter was 16 mm (range: 6 - 55 mm). Thirteen patients had recurrent or residual hemangioblastomas. Four with primary hemangioblastomas were diagnosed using CT, MRI and DSA. The maximum dose to the tumors was 21.0 - 50.0 Gy, with mean dose of 33.7 Gy. The radiation dose to the periphery of tumors was 12.0 - 24.0 Gy, with mean dose of 17.6 Gy.

RESULTSAll the patients had been followed up for 18 to 62 months, with mean 46 months. Five patients experienced clinical improvement and reduction in tumor volume, and 5 remained stable and tumor unchanged in volume during the follow-up period. Three patients died of tumor progression, surgery and cancer after treatment 18, 22, 25 months respectively. Four patients underwent surgery respectively at 3, 4, 29 and 48 months after gamma knife operation. The local control rate of the tumors at 1 year was 92%, 2 years 88%, 3 years 80% and 4 years 75%. Pathological findings in these patients showed varying degrees of small vessel thickening and occlusion together with degeneration, necrosis in the center of tumor and loss of tumor cells at periphery.

CONCLUSIONSGamma knife is not adequately reliable for the control of hemangioblastoma cysts, it is an effective treatment of small or medium-size solid tumors, but long-term follow-up is needed. The recommended dose is 16 to 20 Gy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioblastoma ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiosurgery ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of Weicao Capsule (WCC) on gout.

METHODSTwo hundred gout patients were assigned to two groups. The treated group was treated with WCC and the control group was treated with Tongfengding Capsule. Both groups were given the respective treatments orally 3 times a day, 2 capsules each time with 2 weeks as one course and all patients received 2 successive courses of treatment. Changes of blood beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-M), hemoglobin (Hb), 24 h urinary protein (24 h UP), pH value of urine and blood uric acid (BUA) as well as kidney function were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, level of beta(2)-M got lowered significantly, Hb and 24 h UP, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and the clearance rate of creatinine, as well as blood lipids all improved obviously in the treated group (all P<0.01), while these parameters remained unchanged in the control group (P>0.05). The pH value of urine was improved in both groups showing an insignificant difference between them (P>0.05). BUA was decreased in both groups with a decrease to a larger extent in the treated group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 87% in the treated group, which was superior to that in the control group (62%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONWCC has a favorable therapeutic effect on gout and its mechanism of action for improving renal function and reducing urinary protein could be related with the lowering of blood beta(2)-M, BUA and lipids.

Adult ; Aged ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gout ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney Function Tests ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteins ; analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Uric Acid ; blood ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; blood

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cranial Nerve Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Radiosurgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tea consumption, biliary tract cancers and gallstone disease.

METHODSA population-based case-control study was conducted in urban Shanghai from 1 June 1997 to 31 May 2001 involving interviews with 627 new cases of biliary tract cancers (including 368 cases of gallbladder cancer, 191 cases of extrahepatic bile duct cancer and 68 cases of cancer of the ampulla of Vater) aged 35 to 74 years and 959 population controls frequency-matched to cases by gender and age in five-year group. 1037 patients of gallstone disease were selected from the same hospital. All subjects were interviewed in person by trained interviewers by use of a structured questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTSCompared with tea non-drinkers, current tea consumption was inversely associated with risk of gallbladder cancer, extrahepatic bile duct cancer and gallstone disease among females with OR of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.34-0.96), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.27-1.03) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.51-0.99), respectively. OR declined with younger age at initiation of tea drinking and with longer duration of tea consumption (P for trend < 0.05). Among males, the corresponding OR were mostly below one, although not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONTea consumption may decrease the risk of cancers of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile duct among females. The protective effect appears to be independent of gallstone disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Gallstones ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Polyphenols ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Risk Factors ; Tea ; chemistry