AIM: To investigate the action of testosterone on atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. METHODS: 37 male cholesterol-fed rabbits were divided into five groups: castration group: castrated rabbits without exogenous testosterone administration; testosterone Ⅰ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 0.25 mg?kg -1?d -1; testosterone Ⅱ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 2.5 mg?kg -1?d -1; testosterone Ⅲ group: castrated rabbits with exogenous testosterone 12.5 mg?kg -1?d -1. The sham operation group was also set. Three months later, the levels of testosterone, blood lipids (including TG, HDL-C, LDL-C), PAI activity, nitric oxide (NO) content, endothelin (ET), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) in blood were detected. RESULTS: It showed that testosterone in castration group was the lowest. There was no significant difference of TG or LDL-C between castration group and the other four groups. HDL-C in castration group was lower than that in other four groups. NO content of castration group was lower than that in others, but PAI activity, ET and AngⅡ concentration were higher than that in other groups. CONCLUSION: Testosterone is a protective factor against atherosclerosis in male rabbits.

Objective To establish the quality standard of Qingshen Granules. Methods Thin-layer chrmatography was used to identify Rheum officinale Baill., Hedyotis Diffusa Wild. and Coptis chinensis Franch.. The contents of rhein, emodin and chrysophanol were determined by HPLC. The HPLC consisted of Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), methanol-0.1% phosphonic acid (70∶30) as mobile phase, flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, detection wavelength at 245 nm, and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Results The results of TLC showed that relevant spots were clear without interference against the negative sample. The calibration curves for rhein, emodin and chrysophanol were found to be linear within the range of 0.003 3-0.42 μg (r =0.999 9), 0.008 0-0.51 μg (r=1.000 0), 0.009 9-0.32 μg (r=1.000 0), respectively. The average recoveries were 98.84%, 99.04% and 100.35% with RSD of 1.30% (n=6), 1.34% (n=6) and 1.89% (n=6), respectively. Conclusion The methods are accurate and quick in qualitative identification and quantitative assay, and can be used for the quality control of Qingshen Granules.

Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Cartilage ; abnormalities

Objective To analyze the association of blood uric acid level with the severity of coronary artery stenotic changes, metabolic syndrome (MS), and its components. Methods A total of 343 individuals ( male 223,female 120) who underwent coronary angiography and had complete data on MS and serum uric acid were collected. The severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was assessed by the coronary stenesis index (CSI). MS was diagnosed according to the Guideline on Prevention and Treatment of Blood Lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults. Results (1)The mean uric acid level was significantly lower in women than in men [ ( 306.3±76.9 vs 358.9±85.2 ) μmol/L, P＜0.01 ]. The prevalence of MS and its components showed no difference between men and women. (2) The uric acid level in women with 3 components was higher than those with1( P＜0. 01 ) or 2 ( P＜0.05 ) components of metabolic disorders, but not in men. (3) Quartiles of concentration of uric acid were computed. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of uric acid, women in the highest quartile had higher CSI score [ 7.0 (2.5-12.0) vs 2. 0( 0.0-6.0), P= 0. 025 ]. Moreover, the uric acid level was higher in women with multivessel lesions than nonCAD patients [ (327.0±81.9 vs 284.9±78.6) μmol/L, P = 0.033 ]. However, no correlation was found between uric acid level and the severity of coronary artery lesion in men. (4) Logistic regression showed that age (β=0.042, P=0. 007) and dyslipidemia(β=0.836, P=0. 037 ) were the independent risk factors of CAD in men, and hypertension(β=1. 127, P=0.039) and dyslipidemia(β=0.901, P=0.009)in women. Conclusions In women with higher uric acid level, the clustering of metabolic abnormalities was increased, and the coronary artery lesion was more severe. High uric acid level might be a marker of CAD for women.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD). Methods Totally 234 subjects underwent coronary angiography, including 148 men and 86 women with complete data on metabolic syndrome ( MS) and abdominal ultrasonography; the mean age was 66. 6 years. The severity of CAD was assessed by coronary stenosis index (CSI). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the Guideline on Prevention and Treatment of Blood lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults. Results Ultrasonography revealed that 62 patients had NAFLD (26. 5%). In patients with NAFLD, the prevalence of central obesity was higher than those without NAFLD (75. 8% vs 50. 0% , P< 0.01). With regards to age, CAD patients with NAFLD were more common in patients under 60 years (27.4% vs 13.7% , P=0.005). CSI score was similar in CAD subgroup and CAD & NAFLD subgroup (P>0.05), however the age of patients in CAD & NAFLD subgroup was significantly lower compared to CAD subgroup ( P = 0.006). According to the results of logistic regression, central obesity was the independent risk factor of NAFLD (β= 1.701, P<0.001). Logistic regression demonstrated that age was independently associated with CAD (β = 0.032, P=0.027). Further more, multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was the single parameter that best predicted CSI score (β= 0. 125, P = 0. 022). Conclusions It is important to screen coronary artery disease in middle aged patients with central obesity or NAFLD.

A UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was used to determinate the main active fractions gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, myricetrin, hyperoside and quercitrin in Polygonum capitatum extracts by in situ intestinal perfusion models; the absorption rate constants and cumulative penetration rate of absorption were calculated. The effect of different drug concentrations, different intestine segments, bile and P-gp inhibitors on the absorption mechanism of Gallic acid and other compositions in P. capitatum extracts. The experimental results showed that gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, myricetrin and quercitrin were observed saturated at high concentration (P < 0.05). Bile had significant inhibition effect on protocatechuic acid absorption and had promotion effect on myricetrin and hyperoside absorption (P < 0.05). P-gp inhibitor verapamil could significantly enhance the absorption of Protocatechuic acid (P < 0.05). The overall trend for absorption of various compositions was that small intestine > colon. This indicated that the absorption mechanism of P. capitatum extracts in rat intestine was in line with fist-order kinetics characteristics. The composition could be absorbed in all of the different intestinal segments, and the absorption was mainly concentrated in small intestine. The protocatechuic acid may be the substrate of P-gp.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestines ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Polygonum ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of solitary pulmonary nodules while selecting different backgrounds in 99 Tcm‐MIBI SPECT/CT examination .Methods Totally 38 suspected solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) were analyzed retrospectively .The lesions were divided into malignant group and benign group according to the pathological findings . We selected two different backgrounds , contralateral lung field ( DL ) and the contralateral soft tissue (NST) .The maximum counts and the mean counts of lesion to non‐lesion ratio (L/N) were calculated to evaluate diagnostic efficacy using ROC curve . The relationship between lesion size , pathological grading and L/N ratio was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis . Results With DL and NST as the backgrounds ,the maximum counts and the mean counts of L/N between benign and malignant groups both differed significantly (all P<0 .05) .ROC curve analysis showed as follows :With DL and NST as the backgrounds ,the area under the curve (AUC) of L/DL‐MAX ,L/DL‐MEAN ,L/NST‐MAX ,and L/NST‐MEAN was 0 .73 ,0 .78 ,0 .80 and 0 .86 ,respectively .By pairwise comparison ,there was no significant difference (all P>0 .05) .The size and pathological grading of SPN did not affect 99 Tcm‐MIBI accumulation in the SPN (all P>0 .05) .Conclusion DL and NST both can be used as the background in diagnosis of pulmonary nodules on 99 Tcm‐MIBI SPECT/CT examination .The mean counts of the contralateral tissue used as the background can provide a stable result and a high diagnostic accuracy to assess the SPN .

Objective Recent studies reveal important roles of platelet P-seleetin on progression of atherosclerosis.In the present study,we examine the relation between Platelet P-selectin expression and severity of acute coronary syndromes.Methods One hundredand eighty-four consecutive patients with proven or clinically suspected acute coronary syndromes(ACS)were enrolled in the study.Level of P-selectin expression was determined bv flow cytometry.Platelet P-selectin level was expressed as the percentage of P-selectin positive platelet.Results The level of P-selectin was higher in patients with a single diseased coronary artery or multiplediseased arteries compared to thOSe with normal coronary arteries.P-selectin expression was significantly and positively correlatedwith angiographic Gensini score(r=0.323,P=0.029).Multiple regression analyses showed that the association of the percentage of P-selectin-positive platelets with ACS was independent of other clinical factors. Conclusions Platelet P-selectin is associated withseverity of acute coronary syndromes in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV)gene mutation at 1896 in precore region with genotype and replication of HBV and the liver function of patients.Methods:HBV precore 1896 site mutation,the genotype of HBV and serum content of HBV DNA were determined by PCR in 60 patients positive of HBV DNA.Chemiluminescence miacropaticle immunoassay(CMIA)was used for detection of serum HBeAg and HBeAb.Liver function parameters were ob- tained by routine biochemistry method.Results:The alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level in HBV with 1896 site mutation was significantly higher than that in the wildtype virus.Site mutation at 1896 had no correlation with HBeAg,HBV genotype and HBV DNA content.HBV DNA content in patient with genotype C was significantly higher than that with genotype B(P

Objective To explore the function of fluorescent probe JC-1 in detecting the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential(△?m)in early apoptotic cells.Methods After 2-ME was used to induce MUTZ-1 cell apoptosis,cells were dyed with fluorescent probe JC-1,and then the changes of △?m in the early stage of apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry or detected under fluorescent microscope. Results The control cells with high △?m are those forming JC-1 aggregates in the inner membrane of mitochondria,thus showing orange-red fluorescence.2-ME caused decrease of △?m in MUTZ-1 cells,in which JC-1 maintains monomeric form,thus showing only green fluorescence.The decreases of △?m were in a time-dependent manner,which were significantly higher than those in control group(P