OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD), Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XZD), and Sijunzi Decoction (SD) contained serums on expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)-κB signals, lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and to explore possible anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms.

METHODSTwenty New Zealand rabbits were divided into 4 groups at random, i.e., the normal control group, the BHD group (6.7 g/kg), the XZD group (3.6 g/kg), and the SD group (1.6 g/kg), 5 in each group. All medication lasted for 7 successive days. Two h after the final medication, about 50 mL blood was withdrawn from rabbit heart for preparing serums. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell ECV304 were cultured in vitro for 18 h and randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the Western medicine (WM) control group, the BHD group, the XZD group, and the SD group at random. ECV304, except in the blank control group, were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 2 h. Those in the WM control group and CM groups were treated respectively with corresponding CM contained serum for 24 h. Finally gene and protein expressions of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF-6), NF-κB, LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, mRNA expressions of TLR4, MyD88, TRAF-6, NF-KB, LOX-1 , TNF-cx, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 increased significantly; protein expressions of TLR4, NF-κB, LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 also increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA and protein expressions of each index could be significantly inhibited in the BHD group, the XZD group, and the WM control group (P < 0.05). Besides, mRNA and protein expressions of each index could be significantly elevated more in the BHD group and the XZD group than in the WM control group (P < 0.05). No statistical difference existed in each index between the SD group and the rest groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mechanism of BHD and XZD for fighting against atherosclerosis might be associated with inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signal transduction pathway and expressions of its downstream inflammatory factors such as LOX-1, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. But SD showed no associated effect on atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelial Cells ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; Signal Transduction ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

Objective To study the application of magnetic resonance T2 -mapping and diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)in diagnosis of early cartilage degeneration of the knee joint.Methods 56 patients with clinical intends to diagnosis of early osteoarthritis of the knee were set as observation group,another 56 healthy volunteers were selected as healthy control group.The subjects of the two groups were given knee MRI T2 mapping and DWI,the T2 acquisition value and ADC value of the two groups were analyzed and compared.Results In the observation group, the side of the femoral (37.18 ±4.09),lateral tibial (32.16 ±2.75)and hip (34.56 ±4.21)were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group[femoral side (49.87 ±5.02),tibial side (47.34 ±5.01),hip surface (51.23 ±5.19)](t =20.16,18.36,23.65,all P <0.05).Conclusion Magnetic resonance T2 -mapping and DWI imaging can be found in the early knee cartilage degeneration,can lead to the rise of T2 and ADC value,so there is no cartilage damage to the cartilage damage.

Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; genetics ; Humans

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Periarthritis ; therapy ; Punctures ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Young Adult

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Keratin-20 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Teratoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Urea ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To explore the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of intrabepatic biliary cystadenocarcinoma (IBC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 17 patients with pathologically confirmed IBC, treated between January 2002 and September 2007. Results Of the 17 patients, 4 were men and 13 were women, with a mean age of 49.3 years (range 45 -68). Serum level of AFP was normal in all patients. CA19-9 was abnormally elevated in only two patients and the other two had abnormal serum level of CEA. Seven cases underwent radical resection, 7 underwent complete tumor resection combined with removal of tumor thrombi in the bile duct, 3 received palliative surgery. On histopathological examination, 10 were biliary cystadenocarcinoma,2 were biliary cystadenoma with partial eanceration,2 were papillary cystadenocarcinoma,2 were mutinous papillary cystadenocarcinoma and 1 was of mixed cystadenocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to tumor differentiation, the number of well, moderate and poor-differentiated group was 7, 3 and 7 cases respectively. The medality of surgery (β= - 0.692, P = 0.01) and tumor differentiation (β = - 2.041, P = 0.007) effected the prognosis significantly. Conclusions IBC occurs mainly in elderly women. CA19-9 examination does not help in the establishment of diagnosis of IBC. The occurrence of tumor thrombosis in common bile duct doesn't necessarily indicate poor prognosis, hence a IBC patient will still have a satisfactory prognosis should the primary tumor be completely resected and tumor thrombi removed.

Wound secretion from 20 patients with gaseous gangrene was collected for Gram staining,bacterial culture and drug sensitivity tests.The results indicated that gaseous gangrene was caused by the co-infection of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.Gram-negative bacilli were slishtly more common than other aerobic bacteria in gageous gangrene wound,which was different from the findings of ordinary gaseous gangrene.

Objective To investigate ultrasonographic features of primary and metastatic ovarian yolk sac tumors.Methods Ultrasonographic features of 19 primary lesions and 33 metastatic lesions in 35 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Primary tumors were sized (14.6±3.6)cm in maximum diameter,manifesting as cysti-solid masses.Solid components of primary tumors were mainly hypoechoic or isoechoic(16/19)with rich blood supplies.Thirty-three metastatic lesions were located in pelvoceliac cavity(26/33) and liver parenchyma(7/33),sized (9.4±4.5)cm,(9.2±4.9)cm and (5.6±1.6)cm in maximum diameter respectively.Metastatic lesions in pelvoceliac lesions mainly demonstrated as hypoechoic masses(21/26), however lesions in the liver were mainly hyperechoic(5/7).Anechoic regions could be found in 9/26 of the pelvoceliac lesions.Blood supply was found less rich in metastatic masses than that in primary ones.Elevated serum level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was observed in all patients; ranging from 217 to 211 682 μg/L.Conclusions Primary and metastatic lesions of ovarian yolk sac tumor have obvious ultrasonographic characteristics.Combined with serum AFP level,the accuracy of diagnosis could be improved.