Cerebral Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of hepatic steatosis on virologic response in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFNa).

METHODSNinety-six naive patients positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and with biopsy-proven CHB were administered PEG-IFNa-2a or PEG-IFNa-2b for 48 weeks. Virologic response (HBeAg clearance and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA less than 5 log10 copies/ml) and biochemical response (alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization) were compared between patients with (n=34) and without (n=62) steatosis.

RESULTSThe HBV DNA titer in the steatosis group was significantly lower than that of the non-steatosis group (6.961.27 vs. 7.541.28 log10 copies/ml; t=2.161, P=0.033). After 48 weeks of PEG-IFNa treatments, there was no significant difference in HBeAg seroconversion or the percentage of undetectable HBV DNA (less than 3 log10 copies/ml) between steatosis and non-steatosis patients. However, the steatosis patients presented with a significantly lower complete response rate (virologic response plus biochemical response) compared to non-steatosis patients (26.5% vs. 48.4%; x² =4.373, P=0.037). Of the 45 CHB patients with undetectable HBV DNA after 48 weeks of treatment, seven did not achieve ALT normalization. The rate of patients with non-biochemical response was significantly higher in the steatosis group than in the non-steatosis group (33.3% vs. 6.67%; P=0.032).

CONCLUSIONHepatic steatosis does not affect the virologic response, but does affect the biochemical response in CHB patients treated with PEG-IFNa for 48 weeks.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; complications ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in many physiological processes of plants, and it was also applied to fields of medicinal plant biotechnology. The article presents a review of some recent application of ABA in enhancing the production of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants, improving the in vitro conservation in medicinal plant tissue culture system.
Abscisic Acid ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Plant Growth Regulators ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism

Chemical constituents were investigated on the ethyl acetate extract of Salvia chinensis. Compounds were separated and purified by various chromatograhic techniques including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis. Eleven compounds were isolated and purified and their structures were identified as oresbiusin A(1), ethyl dihydrocaffeate (2), ethyl rosmarinate (3), rosmarinic acid (4), methyl rosmarinate (5), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (6), salvianol acid C (7), methyl salvianol acid C (8), methyl salvianolate A (9), dimethyl lithospermate B (10), and salvianolic acid A(11). Except for rosmarinic acid, the remaining compounds were isolated from S. chinensis for the first time.
Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; Cinnamates ; chemistry ; Depsides ; chemistry ; Dextrans ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lactates ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Salvia ; chemistry

Objective To explore the relationship of chemokines CXCL10-135G/A and CXCL12 -801G/A gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to tuberculosis. Methods CXCL10-135G/A and CXCL12-801G/A polymorphisms of 102 tuberculosis patients(case group)and 115 healthy controls(control group)were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and the relationship between the two polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis were analyzed. Results The genotype analysis of CXCL10-135G/A and CXCL12-801G/A was in accord with the law of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the case group and the control group. The differences of genotype and allele distribution frequency of CXCL10-135G/A were statistically significant between the case group and the control group(all P<0.05).The frequency of G allele distribution was higher in the case group than that in the control group, and the frequency of A allele distribution was lower than that in the control group.There were no significant differences in genotype and allele distribution frequency of CXCL12-801G/A polymorphism between the case group and the control group (all P>0.05).Conclusion Chemokine CXCL10-135G/A gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis,and CXCL12-801G/A gene polymorphism may not be associated with tuberculosis infection.

This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L^-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and explore the value of MRI in distinguishing fresh from old vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: The features of MRI in 43 cases with compression fractures of thoracic or lumbar vertebral bodies were analyzed. MRI sequences included T1WI, T2WI and STIR. RESULTS: Fifty-five vertebral bodies in total were found compression fractures in 43 cases. Forty-six vertebral bodies, which showed low signals or low signals mixing a few high signals on T1WI, high signals on T2WI and significantly high signals on STIR, were identified as fresh compression fractures. Nine vertebral bodies were identified as old compression fractures, because they showed the same signals as normal vertebral bodies on T1WI, T2WI and STIR. CONCLUSION MRI could accurately distinguish fresh and old vertebral compression fractures, so it is valuable for the distinguishment in forensic identification.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Fractures, Compression/etiology* ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/injuries* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/etiology* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/injuries* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the factors of post pancreatoduodenectomy hemorrhage.

METHODSThe clinical data of 263 cases between January 1998 and April 2008 underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were analyzed prospectively.

RESULTSThe overall mortality rate was 4.94% (13/263). Postoperative bleeding occurred in 23 patients (8.75%), with 8 episodes ending fatally (34.8%). The tumor size, Child classification, caput total resection and pancreatic leakage were identified as significant risk factors for post pancreatoduodenectomy hemorrhage by means of univariate analysis. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that all of the five factors turned out to be the independent risk factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevention of these bleeding complications depends in the first place on meticulous hemostatic technique. The pancreatic leakage is also one of the most important factors due to postoperative bleeding. The prophylactic use of somatostatin is not necessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection (SFI, ) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSForty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: sham, heart failure (model) and SFI group. The CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Seven days after the surgical operation, animals in the sham group and the model group received saline (6.2 mL/kg/d), while animals in the SFI group received SFI (6.2 mL/kg d) intraperitoneally. Four weeks later, cardiac hemodynamic parameters were measured via the carotid route. The expression of serum proteins was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSRecording of hemodynamic parameters showed that left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax) rise, and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (-dp/dtmax) decrease, while the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) rose in the model group compared to those in the sham group (P <0.05). The results of the MALDI-TOF MS indicated that haptoglobin (HP), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and alpha-1-antitrypsin were up-regulated, while serum albumin and 40S ribosomal protein were down-regulated in the model group (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, LVSP, +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax were higher, while LVEDP was lower in the SFI group (P<0.05). Expression levels of HP and PTX3 were lower than in the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFI could improve hemodynamic function and decrease inflammatory reactions in the pathophysiology of CHF. The serum proteins HP and PTX3 could be potential biomarkers for chronic ischemic heart failure, and they could also be the serum protein targets of SFI.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Heart Failure ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Heart Function Tests ; Hemodynamics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Inflammation ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Serum Amyloid P-Component ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo explore the acute effects of testosterone at the physiological level on PGF2alpha-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSVSMCs from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the explant method. The subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 hours to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells and then treated with the indicated agents. For the measurement of [Ca2+]i, the VSMCs were loaded with fura-2. Changes of [Ca2+]i were determined ratiometrically with a Nikon TE-2000E system.

RESULTSThe resting level of [Ca2+]i was around 100 nmol/L in the VSMCs. Exposing cells to perfusate containing 10 micromol/L PGF2alpha triggered an immediate and transient peak in [Ca2+]i, which gradually decreased afterwards. Interference at the peak with the physiological concentration (40 nmol/L) of testosterone significantly decreased the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i, compared with ethanol vehicle (104.9 +/- 27.0 s vs 153.5 +/- 40.4 s, P < 0.01). Pretreatment with testosterone at 40 nmol/L for 2 minutes also reduced the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i significantly in comparison with the ethanol control (120.6 +/- 32.0 s vs 151.4 +/- 27.4 s, P < 0.01), but it had no significant effect on the peak level of PGF2alpha-induced intracellular Ca2+ (390.0 +/- 126.0 nmol/L vs 403.4 +/- 160.7 nmol/L, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTestosterone at physiological concentration inhibits PGF2alpha-induced Ca2+ fluxes, probably via receptor-operated calcium channels by a non-genomic mechanism in VSMCs, which may be involved in the vasodilatory effect of testosterone.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoprost ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; physiology