Objective To observe the preventive and therapeutic effects of L-carnitine on the metabolic disorder and cardiac remodeling in alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Methods Experimental animals were divided into three groups: alcohol-fed group(A), an alcohol/L-carnitine fed group(B) and a control group(C). Free fatty acid(FFA) and earnitine were detected in the blood serum at different time. mRNA and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα and PPARγ), retinoic acid receptor retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα), earnitine palmitoyl transferase isoform and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) were observed with RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. Results (1) When group A and B were compared with group C, FFA was increased and carnitine was decreased;mRNA and protein expressions of PPARα, RXRα, CPT-Ⅰ and MCAD were decreased with the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), being more significantly in group A than group B (P < 0.05). (2) mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ had no statistical significance between these three groups at the end of 2 and 4 months(P>0.05), but after 6 months, they were increased in group B and decreased in group A (A vs. C,P<0.01;B vs. C,P<0.05). Conclusion Metabolic disorder and cardiac remodeling occur in the development process of ACM; they are partly prevented by L-carnitine through downregulating mRNA and protein expressions of PPARct, RXRα, CPT-Ⅰ, MCAD and PPARγ.

Adult ; Female ; Food Industry ; manpower ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; Thiocyanates ; urine

Herpesviruses is one of the most common human infectious diseases, which can be divided into different types based on clinical infection degree.Herpes simplex virus usually results in buccal and genital mucocutaneous infections, while cytomegalovirus is the most common opportunistic pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts, especially in transplant and cancer patients.Although nucleoside analogues are effective antiviral drugs, the emergence of drug-resistant viruses has created a barrier for the treatment of herpesviruses infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.Therefore, novel therapeutic agents are needed to avoid the limitations of drug resistance.In this article, research progress in the therapeutic agents for drug-resistant herpesviruses was reviewed from the aspects of non-nucleoside analogues, novel antiviral targets and newly antiviral mechanisms.

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of minimally invasive fixation and bone grafting througn medial side for the treatment of Schatzker III tibial plateau fracture.

METHODSFrom April 2009 to August 2011, 18 patients with Schatzker III tibial plateau fracture were treated with minimally invasive fixation and bone grafting through medial side. There were 15 males and 3 females ranging in age from 64 to 73 years, with an average of (69.75 ± 1.22) years. Sixteen patients were caused by falling down, 2 cases were caused by traffic accident. Operative time and length of incision were be recorded. Clinical and radiological follow-up was performed after operation. Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and Kellgren-Lawrence score were used to evaluate clinical effects.

RESULTSThe mean operative time was (45.32 ± 1.58) min, and the mean length of incision was (5.21 ± 0.65) cm. Postoperative X-ray showed excellent reduction. Eighteen patients were followed up for 10 to 13 months with an average of (11.5 ± 1.35) months. The mean HSS score was 86.51 ± 2.71, 12 cases got excellent results,4 good and 2 fair. Three patients were developed mild osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren-Lawrence system.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive fixation and bone grafting through medial side, not only could reduce surgical invasive, but also guarantee early function activities. It has advantages of keeping well after reduction. So it has the favorable future in clinic.

Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective To explore the distribution rule of metastatic lymph node in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods 315 histopathologically proved NPC patients were studied retrospectively.All patients had had their nasopharynx scanned by MRI with plain and contrast enhanced sequences.The distribution of lymph node was divided into six cervical levels plus retro- pharyngeal nodes(RN) according to RTOG guidelines proposed in 2003.Results 254 out of 315 patients (80.6%) had lymph node involvement,with 81 in the right neck alone,72 left neck alone,and 101 both necks;73 in RN alone,21 neck node alone,and 160 both necks and RN node.Skip metastasis was found in only 4 patients (1.6%).There was significant difference in BN metastasis between the primary tumor be- ing located merely on the superior/posterior wall and lateral wall (78% vs 49%,P＜0.01).The incidence of lymph node metastasis in T1,T2,T3 and T4 patients was 73.5%,91.2%,71.9%,73.5% (P＞0.05), respectively,without significant difference between early or advanced T stage in node distribution (P＞0.05).Conclusions The incidence of lymph node metastasis is high in nasopharyngeal carcinoma,with retropharyngeal node being the most commonly involved,but the incidence of skip metastasis is very low. There is no significant difference between T stage and the incidence of lymph node metastasis.So is the dis- tribution of metastatic node.

Background Researches demonstrated that dendritic cells(DCs) are uniformly immature in the central cornea but mature in the peripheral region of cornea.So an important question is which factor impact the maturation of DCs,especially in terms of corneal transplant rejection and the known roles of DCs in the development and persistence of some corneal diseases.Objective This study aimed to examine whether corneal stroma cells (CSCs) inhibit DCs maturation through secreting transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).Methods DCs,T cells and CSCs were isolated and cultured from clean BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.The level of PGE2 and TGF-β2in CSCs culture supernatant and the fresh RPMI 1640 medium were then analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).During the DCs maturation stage,the neutralizing TGF-β2 antibody and the EP2 receptor antagonist AH6809 were added in the CSCs culture supernatant respectively.According to the different treatment,cultured cells were assigned to different groups as follows:control group,CSCs culture supernatant group,AH6809 group,TGF-β2 antibody group,AH6809 +TGF-β2 antibody group.Subsequently,the cellular surface markers for DCs,including CD11c,CD80,CD86,and MHC- Ⅱ,were analyzed by flow cytometry.The capability of stimulating the proliferation of T lymphocytes was evaluated by allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions,and the function of endocytosis was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran(FITC) uptake.Results The data of ELISA showed a higher concentration of TGF-β2 and PGE2 in murine CSCs culture supernatant than in the fresh RPMI 1640 medium.Compared with the CSCs culture supernatant group,the expression of CD80,CD86,and MHC- Ⅱ was up-regulated ( P ＜ 0.05 ),the expression of dextran was down-regulated ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and the stimulate index was increased( P＜ 0.05 ) in the TGF-β2 antibody group; the expression of CD86,and MHC-Ⅱ was up-regulated (P＜0.05),the expression of dextran was down-regulated ( F =13.740,P =0.006 ),and the stimulate index was increased(P＜0.05) in the AH6809 group;the expression of MHC-Ⅱ was up-regulated and the stimulate index was increased with statistical difference in interaction(P＜0.05 ) in the AH6809+TGF-β2 antibody group.Compared with the control group,the expression of CD80 and CD86,and the stimulate index was still lower(P＜0.05 ).Conclusions TGF-β2 and PGE2 contribute to the inhibitory effects on DCs maturation mediated by murine CSCs in vitro and further have additive effect on the immunosuppression of DCs.

Objective To observe the effect of clindamycin for preventive infection in arthroplasty prophylac-tic.Methods 108 knee replacement patients were injected by 600mg intravenous clindamycin preoperation and con-tinue to use 1 -2 days after operation.The average postoperative hospitalization,postoperative outcome,body tempera-ture and blood after WBC changes of CRP and ESR in the fall of superficial infection trend,the average postoperative day,take out stitches after operation and the number of cases,postoperative deep infection early after infection (2 weeks)and delayed infection cases (within one year)were observed in order to evaluate the efficacy of preopera-tive antibiotics.Results 2 cases had superficial infection due to wound dehiscence (two times after suture recover-y),there was no complications of surgical wound in the other cases.In all cases,after operation,body temperature and blood WBC became to the normal level in seventh days,postoperative patients'CRP,ESR monitoring were significantly higher than those before operation (CRP:F =105.32,P =0.045;ESR:F =118.47,P =0.039),but on the 5 day after operation they were started to decline,CRP in the 21 postoperative day gradually returned to normal,and ESR gradually returned to normal after 6 months of operation.Preoperative HSS score was significantly lower than the post-operative score[(46.8 ±9.7)points vs.(91.7 ±3.4)points,t =6.38,P <0.05].Conclusion Clindamycin plays a definite role in prevention of infection,especially in the beta lactam antibiotic allergy cases,it can be preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis instead of cephalosporins.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of MSCT in the diagnosis of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect.Methods The MSCT features of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect in twenty cases were evaluated retrospectively.The following data were recorded:the size and location of sinus venosus atrial septal defect,the anatomy of pulmonary vein,including number of anomalously draining pulmonary veins and their site of drainage,and associated anomalies.Results In all patients,the superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect locates in the extraseptal wall,which normally separates the right upper pulmonary vein from superior vena cava(SVC).And anomalous connection of right upper pulmonary venous and SVC was identified in all the patients.The mean value of the defect diameter was ( 17.1±5.8) mm.Left superior vena cava was identified in 3 patients.In an elderly patient,left anterior descending branch of coronary artery presented significant stenosis.And in another elderly patient with large atrial septal defect,severe pulmonary hypertension was identified by cardiac catheterization.MSCT findings of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect in 6 cases were finally confirmed by surgical operation.Conclusions Contrastenhanced MSCT was a useful technique for the diagnosis of superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect,which accurately displayed the anatomical characteristics of the associated malformations for preoperative evaluation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast induced by dexamethasone.

METHODSOsteoblasts were extracted from skulls in newly born (within 24 hours) SD rats, and digested with collagenase. The first passage of cells were used for experiments. Cells were cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of dexamethasone (0, 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) ,10(-4) mol/L). Alkaline phosphatase staining were carried out after 1 week and numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red staining were observed after 3 weeks. Accordingly, following the treatment of 10(-5) mol/L dexamethasone for 1 week, cells were cultured in the medium with serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text). One week after Cumibao (Chinese character: see text) treatment, cells were stained with Alkaline phosphatase and collagen I and PCNA were examined by Western-blot. However, the observation of numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red stain required one more week.

RESULTSHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the expression of PCNA, collagen I, alkaline phosphatase and reduce the number of mineralized nodes of osteoblast, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Yishenqing on rabbit membranous nephropathy.

METHODThe rabbit membranous nephropathy model was induced by cationic bovine serum albumin, and the immunity of mice together with urine volume and haemorheological property of rats were also estimated.

RESULTYishenqing could significantly reduce the urinary protein content, preserve the renal function and pathologically restore the glomeruli. Moreover, its effects also include immunity enhancement, diuretic property and blood stasis amelioration.

CONCLUSIONYishenqing has good effects on the rabbit membranous nephropathy, which is probably due to the effects of diuretic property, immunity enhancement and blood stasis amelioration.

Animals ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar