Objective:To analyse the coronary lesion of patients with rheumatic heart disease.Methods:Selective coronary arteriography in comparison with ECG,ECT and ultrasonography were performed on 66 cases with rheumatic heart disease from Aprll,1995 to April 1999.Results:Single or multiple stenosises of coronary artery were found in 10 cases (15.2%).Unsmooth lumen and multipl atherosclerosis plaques were found in 12 cases (18.2%),58 cases had atrial fibrillation.44 cases had ST-T changed or abnormal Q wave(66.7%).Mitral valve was demaged in all cases with ultrasonography.Conclusion:It is essential that patients with rheumatic heart disease to have valve replacement should have coronary arteriography. [

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors 1-3 (S1P1- 3) in the corpus cavernosum of castrated male rats and its relationship with the NOS/NO/cGMP and RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathways.

METHODSWe equally randomized 18 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into a sham-operation control, a castration, and a testosterone replacement (TR) group and harvested the bilateral testes and epididymides from the rats in the latter two groups, followed by 4 weeks of subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate at 3 mg per kilogram of the body weight per day for those in the TR group and that of plant oil for those in the control and castration groups. At the age of 12 weeks, we measured the serum testosterone (T) level and maximum intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP) of the animals and determined the expressions of SlP1-3, eNOS, P-eNOS, ROCK1, and ROCK2 in the corpus cavernosum by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe serum T level was significantly decreased in the rats of the castration group as compared with those of the control and TR groups ([0.41 ± 0.04] vs [16.01 ± 1.02] and [15.84 ± 1.32] nmol/L, P < 0.01), with no statistically significant difference between the latter two groups. The ICPmax/MAP at 0 V, 3 V, and 5 V electric stimulation was remarkably lower in the rats of the castration group (0.088 ± 0.014, 0.323 ± 0.014, and 0.432 ± 0.012) than in those of the control group (0.155 ± 0.011, 0.711 ± 0. 010, and 0.819 ± 0.024) and TR group (0.153 ± 0.012, 0.696 ± 0.017, and 0.763 ± 0.027) (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the latter two groups. With GAPDH as internal control, the animals of the castration group showed markedly reduced expressions of S1P1 ([49.99 ± 3.39]%), eNOS ([46.82 ± 3.81]%) , and P-eNOS ([45.42 ± 4.35]%) in comparison with those in the control group ([72.57 ± 3.06], [89.76 ± 3.98], and [82.53 ± 8.92] and TR group ([71.77 ± 4.43], [87.19 ± 4.23], and [79.82 ± 7.38]%) (P < 0.01) , while the expressions of S1P2, S1P3, ROCK1, and ROCK2 were significantly upregulated in the castration group ([82.35 ± 4.13], [61.03 ± 5.14], [74.50 ± 4.02], and [69.83 ± 5.75]%) as compared with those in the control group ([41.67 ± 1.68], [31.66 ± 2.67], [35.69 ± 5.56], and [39.85 ± 7.17]%) and TR group ([42.80 ± 3.87], [32.25 ± 4.22], 38.06 ± 5.21], and [42.36 ± 4.44]%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAndrogen deficiency induces significant reduction of ICPmax/ MAP in male rats, which is possibly associated with the decline of S1P1 in the corpus cavernosum, inhibition of the eNOS/NO/cGMP signaling pathway, increased expressions of S1P2 and S1P3, and activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathway.

Animals ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penis ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; pharmacology ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of tamsulosin and solifenacin for benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) with overactive bladder ( OAB ).Methods82 patients with OAB and coexisting BPH were randomly divided into tamsulosin group ( n = 38 ) and combination group ( n = 44). The ages were from 50 to 75 y ( averaged, 56.8 ± 8.6). Inclusion criteria: the mean frequency of micturition ≥8 times per day, the frequency of nocturia ≥2 times per day, voiding volume ＜200 ml each time; for the overactive bladder symptom score ( OA BSS), the 3 rd score ＞ 2, total score ＞ 3. The tamsulosin group accepted tamsulosin 0.2 mg once daily, the combination group accepted tansulouxin 0.2 mg and solifenacin 0.2 mg once daily. Both groups were maintained the corresponding therapy for 12 weeks.The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), Qmax, residual urine volume, OAB score and adverse reactions were recorded.ResultsThe values of IPSS ( 19.5 ±2.2 vs 15.6 ±2.4, P =0.027), the voiding symptom score ( 15.6 ± 2.4 vs 3.4 ± 1. 7, P = 0. 022) and Qmax ( 13.7 ± 3.8 vs 16.6 ± 4.1, P = 0. 034 )improved significantly after treatment in tamsulosin group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The values of IPSS ( 19.7 ± 2.3 vs 9.7 ± 3.0, P ＜0. 001), the storage symptom score (13.8 ± 1.9 vs 5.6 ± 1.6, P ＜0. 001 ), OABSS (10.3 ±1.8 vs 5.3 ±1.3, P ＜0.001) and Qmax(14.1 ±4.1 vs 17.2 ±3.5, P=0.027) also improved significantly after treatment in combination group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The values of IPSS ( 9.7 ± 3.0 vs 15.6 ±2.4, P ＜ 0.001 ), the storage symptom score (5.6 ± 1.6 vs 12.0 ± 1.6, P ＜ 0.001 ) and OABSS ( 5.3 ±1.3 vs 9.7 ± 2.7, P ＜ 0. 001 ) improved significantly in combination group than those in tamsulosin group ( P ＜0.001 ). There were no difference between two groups in values of the voiding symptom score, Qmax and residual urine volume ( P ＞ 0.05 ). The incidences of adverse reactions in tamsulosin group and combination group were 7.9％ (3/38) and 20.5％ (9/44) without significant difference. There was no acute urinary retention in both groups.ConclusionsIt is effective and safe for patients with BPH and OAB to accept combination therapy of tamsulosin and solifenacin.

Objective To explore serum IL-6 (interleukin-6) ,IL-10 (interleukin-10), the WBC (white blood cell count), CRP (C-reactive protein)and PCT ( procalcitonin ) level in early diagnosing of in children with hand, foot and mouth disease and bacterial infection. Methods 63 children in bacterial infection group and virus infection group respectively,collected 63 children in normal control group by physical examination. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) double antibody clamp method was used to determine serum IL-6 and IL-10 level. Immune turbidimetric , enzyme-linked fluorescent were used to detected serum CRP , PCT. WBC results were also compared. Resluts Serum IL-6, IL-10, CRP and PCT level were higher in normal control group compared with virus infection group , the WBC level was slightly lower than normal control grou with statistically different IL-6, IL-10, CRP level (P < 0.05);serum IL-6, IL-10, WBC, CRP and PCT levels in Bacteria infection group were higher than virus infection group and normal control group , while their serum WBC, CRP and PCT level were statistically significant compared to virus infection group (P < 0.05),IL-6 and IL-10 were no statistical different (P > 0.05). Conclusion IL-6, IL-10 levels increased significantly in the early stage of hand,foot and mouth disease, but in the aspect of combination of bacterial infection and bacterial infection, their clinical value was not so significant. WBC, CRP and PCT level had important value for early diagnosis in hand, foot and mouth disease with bacterial infection.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for full-length cDNA library of Xinjiang Artemisia rupestris. METHODS:Mod-ified Trizol method was adopted to extract total RNA in young leaves of A. rupestris,it was transcribed into single-strand cDNA, and then synthesized into double-strand cDNA by long-distance polymerase chain reaction(LD-PCR)method. PCR product was di-gested by proteinase K and sfiⅠ,and then fractionated by CHROMA SPIN-400 columns. The cDNA longer than 0.4 kb were col-lected and ligated to phage λTriplE × 2,and then protein packaging was performed. Full-length cDNA library was established by SMART technology. 20 monoclonal were randomly selected from the library,and electrophoresis was used to determine the primary library titer,library capacity,recombinant positive rate and length of insert cDNA. RESULTS:The primary library titer was 1.94× 107 pfu/mL,library capacity was 0.97×107 pfu;recombinant positive rate of insert cDNA was 96% and length was 0.5-2.0 kb with an average of 0.9 kb. CONCLUSIONS:The established library is high in capacity and quality,which can provide basis for estab-lishing cDNA library of Xinjiang A. rupestris.

BACKGROUND: Both Allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma are allergic diseases of respiratory tract. They frequently coexist in the same patients.OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of allergic rhinitis in patients with bronchial asthma in Nanjing, and to analyze the correlation of clinical characteristic between allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.DESIGN: The questionnaire survey.SETTING: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Respiratory, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 134 patients with bronchial asthma including 73 males and 61 females were selected form Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from February 2001 to April 2005. Their ages ranged from 3 to 72 years. Severity of asthma of all patients was classified based on Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). The diagnostic criteria of allergic rhinitis were established referred to the guideline of Haikou Meeting (November, 1997). All patients provided the confirmed consent.METHODS: The questionnaire survey of 134 bronchial asthma patients from the city of Nanjing was conducted. Their age, classification, severity, treatment status, and the family history of all 134 patients were investigated in details. Differences of age, age at onset, and course of disease between rhinitis and asthma of all patients were examined by two independent t tests. The correlation between clinical characteristics of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : Incidence of allergic rhinitis in patients with bronchial asthma and the correlation of clinical characteristic between allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.RESULTS：Of all 134 bronchial asthma patients，82(61．2％,82/134)were accompanied with allergic rhinitis．There were 45 males and 37 females．Of 82 patients with allergic rhinitis accompanying with bronchial asthma，severity was classified into grade Ⅰ (mild pause,n=56)，grade Ⅱ (mild persistence，n=21)，grade Ⅲ (moderate persistence，n=4)，and grade Ⅳ (severe persistence，n=1)．In addition,allergic rhinitis was classified into periodicity (n=65) and persistence(n=17)．According to the classification and seventy system recommended in ARIA,63 patients had mild symptoms and 19 had moderate and severe symptoms．Severity of allergic rhinitis was positively related to that of bronchial asthma(r=0.689,P＜0．01)．CONCLUSION: The morbidity of allergic rhinitis combining with bronchial asthma is high in Nanjing, China. While, their classification and severity are highly coherent.

BACKGROUND:Chitosan is a kind of natural biomaterial and is characterized by great biocompatibility, progressive degeneration and absorption and excellent mechanical property; however, whether it may become an ideal cytoskeleton in the engineering of cartilage tissue or not should be researched further.OBJECTIVE: To observe the hydrophilicity and adsorptivity to human nasal septum chondrocytes and the effect of its function of a novel scaffold made by [poly (dl-lactide-co-glycolide)] (PLGA)/chitosan nonwoven cloth embedded with lecithin (LEC) and poly-L-lysine (PLYS).DESIGN: Blank control study.SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from October 2005 to June 2006. Chitosan nonwoven cloth was provided by Hainan Xinlong Company. The mainly technical parameters were detailed as the follows: degree of deacetylation ≥ 90% and relative molecular weight 2-5 × 105. PLGA/chitosan nonwoven cloth scaffold was made in Department of Otolaryngology-Hean and Neck Surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA and High Polymer Institute of Sun Yat-sen University. The mainly technical parameters were detailed as the follows: mole ratio between monome lactide and glycolide 75:25, porosity 82%-86%, pore diamater 100-300 μm, shear strength 48 MPa, depth 1.5 mm and completely degenerated duration 14-18 weeks. Human nasal septum chondrocytes were the septal cartilage of nose which was derived from operated patients with deflection of nasal septum under sterile condition.METHODS: PLGA/chitosan nonwoven cloth was sheared into pieces with the size of 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm, dipped in 0.01 volume fraction of LEC anhydrous alcohol and 1 g/L PLYS for 6 hours, dealt with ultraviolet radiation after dehydration for 1hour, dipped in 0.75 volume fraction of ethanol for 24 hours, washed with Hanks solution, and incubated for 24 hours. After operations mentioned above, two kinds of novel scaffolds containing various components were obtained, and they were simple scaffold and scaffold embedded with LEC and PLYS. Cells derived from the third generation of human nasal septum chondrocytes were used to make suspension. In addition, cell suspension was grown on those two scaffolds to determine the degree of hydrophilicity through observing diffused degree of cell suspension. Whether cell suspension of human nasal septum chondrocytes was wafted on scaffolds or not were observed under phase contrast microscope so as to determine adsorptivity between cells and scaffolds; meanwhile, growth of cells and production of matrix were also observed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Hydrophilicity of those two kinds of scaffolds (diffused degree of cell suspension of human nasal septum chondrocytes on scaffold) and adsorptivity to cells (whether cell suspension of human nasal septum chondrocytes was wafted on scaffolds or not); ② growth of cells and production of matrix.RESULTS: ① When simple scaffold was put in cell suspension of human nasal septum chondrocytes, cell suspension showing like balls attached to the surface of scaffold, and then, scattered into space of scaffold gradually. During the period of culture, phase contrast microscope indicated that masses of cells attached to the surface of fiber of scaffold.When the petri dish was shaken, cell groups drifted irregularly. The adherent rate was (21±3.7)%. With the cultured time passing by, matrix was not produced. ② When scaffold embedded with LEC and PLYS was put in cell suspension of human nasal septum chondrocytes, cell suspension scattered into space of scaffold rapidly. The adherent rate was (89±5.6)%, which was higher than that of single scaffold group. This suggested that scaffold showed a strong hydrophilicity.Phase contrast microscope indicated that chondrocytes as the form of monome or community were distributed between scaffold and fiber averagely and attached to the surface of fiber of scaffold. When the petri dish was shaken, cell groups did not drift irregularly, and only a few of cells were scarred at the bottom of petri dish. This suggested that scaffold had a strong adsorptivity to cells. One week after culture, matrix showing like cobweb was produced among fibers of scaffold.With the cultured time passing by, matrix was produced abundantly.CONCLUSION: The novel scaffold of PLGA/chitosan nonwoven cloth embedded with LEC and PLYS is characterized by an excellent hydrophilicity and adsorptivity to human nasal septum chondrocytes; meanwhile, it also can secrete matrix.

Objective To observe the bone metabolism of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and investigate the roles of some bone metabolism markers such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5),C-terminal telopeptide of collagen-Ⅰ (CTX-Ⅰ) and BALP in PsA patients with bone destructions.Methods Sixty-five cases of psoriatic arthritis,30 cases of psoriasis and 30 cases of healthy people were enrolled.Bone mineral densities of lumbar spines and the left femoral necks were measured for all PsA patients using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.The Serum levels of TRACP5b,CTX-Ⅰ,BALP of healthy controls,Ps and PsA patients were measured.The PsA group was further divided into bone destruction group and none bone destruction group by image datasets.The levels of TRACP5b,CTX-Ⅰ,BALP,PsAJAI,ESR and CRP from each group were detected.Mann-Whitney and x2 test were used for statistic analysis.Results TRACP5b levels of the healthy controls,Ps and PsA patients were (0.9±0.4),(0.7±0.5) and (2.0±1.4) U/L respectively,and were significantly higher in the PsA patients than those of the other two groups (Z=-3.698,-3.638; P＜0.05).The CTX-Ⅰ levels of these three groups were (0.9±0.8),(0.6±0.7) and (2.6±1.8) ng/ml respectively,and were also dramatically higher in the PsA patients than the other two groups (Z=-5.262,-5.734; P＜0.05).BALP levels of each group were (22±4),(22±4) and (25±7) U/L,and were also evidently higher in the PsA patients than patients in the other two groups (Z=-2.214,-2.000; P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the levels of TRACP5b [(2.6±1.4) U/L],CTX-Ⅰ [(3.1±1.8) ng/ml] and BALP [(26±7) U/L] were significantly higher in bone destruction group than those in the none bone destruction group [(1.2±1.0) U/L,(1.9±1.6) ng/ml,(23±6) U/L,Z=-3.544,-3.429,-2.083; P＜0.05].Conclusion The high levels of TRACP5b,CTX-Ⅰ and BALP in PsA indicate that there is bone metabolism imbalances in PsA.And the high levels of TRACP5b,CTX-Ⅰ and BALP in the bone destruction group suggest that the rises of TRACP5,CTX-Ⅰ and BALP levels may be related with bone erosions.

Nanocarriers generally made of natural or artificial polymers ranging in size from about 10-1 000 nm, possess versatile properties suitable for drug delivery, including good biocompatibility and biodegradability, potential capability of targeted delivery and controlled release of incorporated drugs, and have been extensively used in the development of new drug delivery systems (DDS). These types of nano-DDS have considerable potential to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and recently have attracted increasing efforts on the TCM research and development. In this review, the recently published literature worldwide is covered to describe the latest advances in the applications as TCM delivery carriers, and to highlight the characteristics and preparation methods of some selected examples of promising nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanomicelles and nanoliposomes.
Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Nanotechnology ; methods

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of osteoclasts and osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (OPG/RANKL) system on bone destruction of psoriatic arthritis.MethodsThe peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 41 psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients,20 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 24 healthy controls were cultured to become osteoclasts.After 14 days,cytochemistry method was used to detect tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) expression.At the same time,enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of serum OPG and RNAKL for all cases.At the same time,the clinical and laboratory examinations of the PsA were collected.Statistical analysis was conducted with one-way ANOVA and Spearman's correlation.ResultsSignificantly higher OC production was observed in the peripheral blood of PsA patients[(17.7±4.8)/view field] than that of the healthy controls[(6.4±1.6)/view field] and OA patients [(6.5±l.6)/view field].The levels of RANKL were significantly higher in PsA patients [(178±38) pg/ml] than those in the other two groups [(32±4) pg/ml and (67±17) pg/ml].There was significant difference between the PsA group with bone destruction and without destruction in the levels of OC and RANKL [(17.6±0.9) /view vs(7.9±1.3) /view and(199±72) pg/ml vs(128±44) pg/ml,P＜0.01].Imaging scores was positively correlated with the levels of OC and RANKL in PsA patients (P＜0.05).ConclusionIn PsA,there are significantly more OC and higher RANKL in the peripheral blood than those of the controls.The high levels of OC and RANKL are closely related with bone destruction.OC and RANKL are useful in identifying bone destruction.