AIM:To observe the effect of preconditioning with pioglitazone on ischemia reperfusion/hypoxia reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial ultramicro-structure and membrane potential in rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operated (SO) group, ischemia reperfusion (IR) group, pioglitazone preconditioning group (Pio-P) and 5-HD+pioglitazone (5-HD+Pio) group. Apart from the SO group, IR, Pio-P and 5-HD+Pio groups were subjected to 30 min ischemia and 4 h reperfusion. The heart was quickly removed for observing the structure of mitochondria and measurement of the apoptosis index (AI) by TUNEL. Primary cultured cardiomyocytes of Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, hypoxic reoxygenation (HR) and different concentrations of Pio-P group. JC-1 staining flowcytometry was adopted to examine mitochondrial membrane potential (?m). RESULTS: The injury of mitochondrial structure in IR group was severer than that in Pio-P group, while the difference between 5-HD+Pio group and IR group was not evident. Flameng score in Pio-P group(1.62?0.60) was significantly lower than that in IR group (2.75?1.09), P0.05). CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone protects the heart from ischemia reperfusion/ hypoxia reoxygenation injury evidenced by improving mitochondrial ultrastructure and lessening the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreasing apoptosis. The cardioprotective effects can be inhibited by the blocker of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels.

Objective To investigate the curative effect of RevoLix 2 micron continuous wave laser va-poresection for treatment of elderly and high risk benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. Methods Clinical data of 36 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with medical complications aging 70 -82 years were retro-spectively analyzed. Operations were done after their complications were controlled. The RevoLix 2 μm laser system with output power of 70 W was used, and normal saline was used as rinse solution. Operations were started after positions of seminal colliculns and distances to neck of bladder were confirmed. Results Oper-ation time varied from 65 to 135 rain with a mean time of (83.6±10. 6) rain. Occasional venous hemor-rhage occurred during operation but no arterial hemorrhage was observed. No blood transfusion necessitated and no TURP syndrome was observed. Catheter was removed 2-4 days after operation. All the patients could urinate freely. No urinary incontinence was found during follow-up except 2 patients with temporary urinary incontinence. A 3-6 months follow-up showed that IPSS decreased from 24. 26 ±2. 70 to 8.47±4. 32, QOL dropped from 4. 51±0. 56 to 1.34 ± 0. 53, and Qmax increased from (6. 37 ± 1.31) mL/s to (17.24± 2. 32) mL/s. Conclusions RevoLix 2 micron continuous wave laser vaporesection is a safe and effective method with less trauma and fast recovery for treating elderly and high risk benign prostatic hyperplasia pa-tients.

Objective To investigate the impact on renal fibrosis by inhibition of connective tissue growth factor( CTGF) by RNA interference in spontaneous hypertension rat( SHR) . Method Twenty SHR were randomly (random number) divided into SHR group ( n = 10) and RNAi group ( n = 10), eight Wistar-Kyoto rats were set as control. At the end of RNA interference procedure, all the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were harvested. The mRNA and plasmosin of CTGF and fibronectin(FN) of renal tissue were extracted and measured by RT-PCR and Western Blotting. And the localization of CTGF and FN were analyzed with immunohistochernistry technique. The collagen deposition(shown as collagen volume traction, CVF) were evaluated with 0.1% sirius-picric staining, and the hydroxyproline of myocardium were detected by colorimetry. Results The mRNA and protein expression of CTGF decreased 66% and 62% in RNAi group (P < 0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of FN decreased 56% and 51% in RNAi group.The same inhibition effect was observed by hislological analysis. Immuno-histochemistry showed that CTGF localized both in renal parenchyma and renal interstitium, whereas FN majorly expressed in renal interstitium. Observation with light microscope showed that collagen deposition(CVF)decreased sharply in RNAi group versus SHR group. And the same effect was viewed in hydroxypnoline assay[SHR group: (0.596 ± 0.067) μg/mg, RNAi group: (0.368±0.084) μg/mg, P < 0.01 ] .Further study by polarized microscope displayed that RNA interference mainly suppressed type I collagen synthesis. Conclusions Targeted inhibition of CTGF by RNA interference leads significant decrease of extracellular matrix deposition in kidney. And the anti-fibrotic effect independent of lower the blood pressure. This study indicated CTGF take a key role in the development and progress of renal fibrosis.

The papor made a classification and summary on content and pattern of digitizing researches on chinese ancient medical books in mainland China, highlighted the major achievements and put forward a few issues to be solved.

The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the correlations between foliar fungal endophyte communities and effective components accumulations in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Foliar samples of S. miltiorrhiza were collected in 5 different areas. Their fungal endophyte communities and effective component contents were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The results showed that, for characteristics of foliar fungal endophyte communities and effective component contents, there were both similarities and differences among the five samples. Correlation analysis of DGGEs' band and 24 effective components revealed a significant correlations (P < 0.01). For examples, 4 bands (15, 18, 23 and 26) were all significantly correlated with the accumulations of caffeic acid, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid C and dihydrotanshinone I.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cluster Analysis ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; Fungi ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; microbiology

Head ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck ; surgery ; United States

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of atractylodes macrocephalaon polysaccharides (AMP) intervention for reducing liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats after orthotopic liver autotransplantation.

METHODSSD rat I/R injured model was established by liver autotransplantation. SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the model group, the AMP group and the sham-operated group. They were infused with saline, AMP and saline respectively after operation, and killed in batches at different time points (1, 6 and 24 h after operation), for determining blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and detecting the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) in liver tissue by immunohistochemical method. The pathological examination of liver was performed as well.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, in the AMP group at any time points after operation, the serum levels of ALT, AST, DBIL, TBIL and MDA were lower and of SOD were higher (P < 0.05); the elevated expression of NF-kappaB was weakened (P < 0.05), and the pathologic changes (liver congestion, swelling, hepatocyte necrosis and portal area inflammation cell infiltration) were lessened.

CONCLUSIONAMP could reduce the post-transplantation liver I/R injury in rats, which might be associated with its effects on inhibiting NF-kappaB expression, intervening membrane destruction of liver cells by free oxygen radicals, suppressing enzyme, and alleviating morphological damages of liver.

Animals ; Atractylodes ; chemistry ; Female ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Liver ; blood supply ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo study features of brain gray matter injury in cerebral infarction patients and intervention of scalp acupuncture by using voxel-based morphology.

METHODSA total of 16 cerebral infarction patients were recruited in this study, and assigned to the scalp acupuncture group and the control group, 8 in each group. Another 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as a normal group. All patients received scanning of T1 structure. Images were managed using VBM8 Software package. Difference of the gray matter structure was compared among the scalp acupuncture group, the control group, and the healthy volunteers.

RESULTSCompared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients mainly occurred in 14 brain regions such as cingulate gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, anterior central gyrus, insular lobe, and so on. They were mainly distributed in affected side. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the scalp acupuncture group still existed in 8 brain regions such as bilateral lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, left cuneus, right precuneus, and so on. New gray matter injury occurred in lingual gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Two weeks after treatment when compared with healthy volunteers, gray matter injury of cerebral infarction patients in the control group existed in 23 brain regions: bilateral anterior cingulum, caudate nucleus, cuneate lobe, insular lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, precuneus, paracentral lobule, superior temporal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, precentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and so on. New gray matter injury still existed in 9 cerebral regions such as lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONSBrain gray matter structure is widely injured after cerebral infarction. Brain gray matter volume gradually decreased as time went by. Combined use of scalp acupuncture might inhibit the progression of gray matter injury more effectively.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Gray Matter ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Scalp ; Stroke ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei, thiourea, superoxide dismutase, and sodium azide on carbon disulfide-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals.

METHODSPhenanthroline-CuSO(4)-Vit C-H(2)O(2) chemiluminescence system (PHEN system) containing alcohol was established to probe the influence of various concentrations of carbon disulfide on hydroxyl radicals emission intensity and the scavenging effects of Lu-Duo-Wei and other antioxidants on carbon disulfide-induced hydroxyl radicals were observed.

RESULTSThe average emission intensity of PHEN system containing alcohol appeared lower luminescence [91.03 x 10(3) (cp6s)] and longer time (75 s) to get the peak than the system without alcohol [96.11 x 10(3) (cp6s), 55 s]. The specific scavenger of hydroxyl radical, thiourea, showed clear inhibitory effect on the system. Carbon disulfide in the range of 40 - 160 mmol/L promoted the generation of hydroxyl radical, however, this effect could be efficiently inhibited by thiourea. 160 mmol/L carbon disulfide in PHEN system without copper seemed as an activator to promote the luminescence, while in PHEN system withdrawing phenanthroline appeared some weak action of luminescence agent at low concentration. Meanwhile, Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals induced by carbon disulfide in PHEN system but superoxide dismutase and sodium azide had little effects on the system.

CONCLUSIONCarbon disulfide may induce PHEN system to generate hydroxyl radicals and Lu-Duo-Wei may efficiently scavenge these free radicals and play an important role in protection against oxidative injury induced by carbon disulfide.

Carbon Disulfide ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Luminescent Measurements ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology ; Thiourea ; pharmacology