Neferine, an alkaloid, isolated form Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn,has antiarrhytbmic effect. The present report deals with its action on the ECG in rat & the surface potential of toad sciatic nerve.Neferine could prolong ECG, P-R & Q-T intervals, and widen QRS in a dose-dependent manner, The effects are similar to quini-dine, and dissimilar to tetrandrine. The inhibitory effects of neferine & quinidine on the surface potential of toad sciatic nerve are similar in potency.

Objective To evaluate the changes of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics of Chiari malformation type I associated syringomyelia patients with phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI).Methods Thirty cases diagnosed with Chiari malformation type Ⅰ associated with syringomyelia clinically underwent cisterna plasty treatment.Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics changes were measured before 24 h and 6 months after operation with PC-MRI.The stroke volume (SV),mean flow (MF),regurgitation fractions (RF) and the maximum peak flow velocity (Vmax) were analyzed.Results After operation,PC-MRI showed SV and MF increased,the bidirectional Vmax decreased,which had statistical difference compared with those of preoperation (all P＜0.05),and the C2-3 level was the most obvious.Conclusion PC-MRI can quantitative analysis of preoperative and postoperative changes of cerebrospinal fluid flow and peak velocity.

By using decapitating, intravenous injection of saturated MgCl2 and legation of bilateral carotid arteries with vagi, the effects of 1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenylethyl- amino) propane hydrochloride(DDPH) on survival time in mice were studied. With the model of cerebral ischemia for 20 min and reperfusion for 10 min, effects of DDPH on the superoxide dismutases(SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in brain tissue and pathological changes were studied. The results indicated that DDPH at dosages of 3,6,12,24 mg*kg-1 ip 30 min before ischemia prolonged the survival time significantly. Meanwhile, DDPH was found to increase the activity of SOD and reduce the content of MDA, as well as mitigate pathological damage of neuron after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in mice. The results suggest that DDPH has protective effects on brain ischemia.

Objective To observe the early clinical effect of single kidney transplantation from cardiac death pediatric donors to adult recipients. Methods Clinical data of 6 single kidney transplantations from cardiac death pediatric donors in adult recipients in Department of Organ Transplantation ,Guangdong Province No.2 People′s hospital were retrospectively analyzed. the transplant operations were carried out between January 2010 to may 2016.The median age of 6 pediatric donors was 9 years (5 years to 15 years). All recipients had the same blood type. The median age of 12 recipients was 38 years (21 years to 65 years),with 4 man and 8 women. All recipients received kidney transplantation for the first time,and overall reactive antibodies(PRA) were negative,with HLA mismatch between 1to 4. All recipients received single kidney transplantation in right fossa iliaca. Results 12 kidney transplantations were successful. The renal allografts recovered successfully without acute renal rejection , delayed graft function or primary nonfunction. Renal function of 5 of recipients immediately recovered in 5 days,5 recovered in 10 days,and 2 recovered slowly. 1 recipient manifested urine leak and recovered after drainage. 1 case developed delayed incision healing and recovered after dressing at stage II. All patients and renal grafts functions were wellnormal during follow?up period between 1 month to 36 months. Conclusion The early clinical effect of single kidney transplantation from cardiac death pediatric donors to adult recipients is good and could be a promising pathway to expand the organ donor sources.

Objective To find out the distribution of TCM constitution on the patients with stroke in Beijing. Method The TCM Constitution Questionnaire was used to evaluate 489 patients with stroke in three hospitals in Beijing. Results The qi-deficiency constitution (140 patients, 28.63%), yin-deficiency constitution (95 patients, 19.43%), blood-stasis constitution(89 patients, 18.20%) and phlegm-heat constitution (73 patients, 14.93%) were the most common constitution, while qi-depression constitution (22 patients, 4.50%) and yang-deficiency constitution (20 patients, 4.09%) were the less common. The top three constitution in middle aged wereqi-deficiency (33 patients, 27.27%), phlegm-heat (23 patients, 19.01%) and blood stasis (22 patients, 18.18%). The top three constitution in the aged groupwere qi-deficiency (107 patients, 29.08%), yin-deficiency (76 patients, 20.65%) and blood-stasis (67 patients, 18.21%). Conclusions Stroke is closely related with imbalance of TCM constitution. The prevention and treatment of stroke patients with different ages should vary according to the constitutions.

This study was aimed to investigate the association between dyslipidemia and thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). We evaluated the relationship between dyslipidemia and TAO in 218 patients with Graves′ disease (GD) and found that the serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the GD subjects with TAO (n=110) were significantly increased [(5.32±1.39) mmol/L vs. (3.18±2.12) mmol/L, (2.98±0.75) mmol/L vs. (1.25±0.98) mmol/L] than those in the GD subjects without TAO (n=108). TC and LDL-C were positively correlated with the Clinical disease activity score (CAS) [TC (r=0.7, P=0.03),LDL-C (r=0.82, P=0.03)], and the levels of TC (OR=2.56, P=0.02) and LDL-C(OR=2.01, P=0.015) were positively associated with TAO. These suggested that high serum cholesterol level is a novel risk factor for TAO, and management of blood lipids should be included in the treatment of TAO.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) knockdown on the first-phase insulin secretion in isolated islets of db/db mice and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODSIslets were isolated from db/db and db/m mice and the expression level of AT1R in the islets was assayed. A recombinant adenovirus containing siRNA targeting AT1R (Ad-siAT1R) and a recombinant adenovirus with nonspecific siRNA (Ad-siControl) were constructed to infect the isolated islets for 72 h. AT1R, GLUT-2, and GCK expressions in the islets were investigated and islet perifusion was performed to evaluate the kinetics of insulin release.

RESULTSThe expression level of AT1R in the isolated islets from db/db mice was twice that of islets from db/m mice. The islets treated with Ad-siAT1R showed significantly decreased AT1R mRNA and protein levels and significantly increased expression of GLUT-2 (by 190%) and GCK (by 121%) compared to those treated with Ad-siControl (P<0.05). In response to stimulation with 16.7 mmol/L glucose, the first-phase insulin secretion was impaired in both Ad-siControl group and mock infected group with the peak insulin levels only 1.8 times of the basal level; the first-phase insulin secretion was markedly improved in islets treated with Ad-siAT1R, with a peak insulin level reaching 2.8 times of the basal level.

CONCLUSIONSIn isolated islets of db/db mice, selective AT1R inhibition can restore the first phase insulin secretion by up-regulating GLUT-2 and GCK, which may be one of the potential mechanisms by which AT1R blockers improve insulin secretion function.

Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Glucose ; Glucose Transporter Type 2 ; metabolism ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; metabolism ; Mice ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of rhein treatment on the first-phase insulin secretory function in db/db mice.

METHODTwenty 4-week-old male db/db mice were randomized to treatment with rhein (120 mg x kg(-1), n = 10) and placebo respectively (1% natrium cellulose solution, n = 10) by gavage for 8 weeks respectively. Ten age-matched non-diabetic male littermates db/m mice treated with placebo were studied as non-diabetic control. Body weight and fasting blood glucose level were measured before and after medication. The islets were isolated after 8 weeks' gavage. Islet perifusion system was set up, and all columns were perfused in parallel at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1) with KRB (2.8 mmol L(-1) glucose) at 37 degrees C. After 60-min static incubation with KRB (2.8 mmol x L(-1) glucose), the islets were stimulated in the continuous presence of a high concentration of 16.7 mmol x L(-1) glucose. Samples were collected every 20-second until 2-min, every 1-min until 5-min, thereafter every 5-min until 30-min. Samples were immediately stocked at -80 degrees C until further analysis.

RESULTCompared with the db/db control group, the fasting glucose concentration was significantly decreased in the rhein treatment group. The first-phase insulin secretory function was impaired significantly in db/db mice, while the first-phase insulin secretory peak was obvious in the rhein treatment mice.

CONCLUSIONRhein treatment significantly improved glucose tolerance, restored the first-phase insulin secretion and protected the islets function.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Insulin ; secretion ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of quantitative plaque analysis and coronary CT angiography (CCTA) derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) in evaluating plaque progression (PP).Methods:A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent serial CCTA examinations in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from December 2013 to December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. There were 37 patients in the PP group and 81 patients in the non-PP group. All patients′ CCTA images were quantitatively analyzed using plaque analysis software. The quantitative analysis parameters included stenosis degree, plaque length, total plaque volume, calcified plaque volume, non-calcified plaque volume, minimum lumen area, remodeling index(RI) and plaque burden. Plaque progression was defined as plaque burden change rate>1%. CT-FFR analysis was performed using cFFR software and the CT-FFR value was measured at 2-4 cm distal to the coronary lesion. Baseline parameters between the two groups were evaluated using Students t-test, U-test, chi-square test. The logistic regression model was conducted to evaluate the relationship between CCTA derived parameters and PP. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the areas under the curve (AUC) was used to determine the predictive performance of different CCTA parameters. Results:Compared with the non-PP group, the patients were older( t=2.391, P=0.018), the prevalence of hyperlipidemia was higher(χ2=4.550, P=0.033), and the proportion of statins use was lower (χ2=4.764, P=0.029) in the PP group. The PP group showed greater coronary stenosis, smaller minimum lumen area, larger plaque volume and non-calcified plaque volume, larger remodeling index and lower CT-FFR value on baseline CCTA (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that RI(OR=2.714, 95%CI:1.078-6.836)and CT-FFR (OR=2.940, 95%CI:1.215-7.116) were independent predictors of PP. The model based on CCTA stenosis degree, quantitative plaque features and CT-FFR (AUC 0.83, 95%CI: 0.75-0.90; P<0.001) was significantly better than the model based on CCTA stenosis degree (AUC 0.62, 95%CI: 0.52-0.70, P=0.049) and the model based on CCTA stenosis degree and quantitative plaque characteristics (AUC 0.77, 95%CI: 0.68-0.84, P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the prediction model derived on stenosis degree, plaque quantitative markers and CT-FFR can improve the prediction value of PP.RI and CT-FFR were important predictors of PP.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil(MMF) in patients with active moderate to severe thyroid associated ophthalmopathy(TAO) refractory to multiple intravenous glucocorticoid(GC).Methods:Fifty-two patients with active moderate to severe TAO that was refractory to multiple intravenous GC were treated with MMF 0.5g orally, 2/d. To evaluate the overall response rate of TAO patients, the improvement of more than 3 items including clinical disease activity score(CAS), soft tissue involvement, proptosis, diplopia, decrease of eye movements, visual acuity and other improvements were defined as response.Results:After 12 weeks of MMF treatment, the overall response rate of TAO patients was 75.0%, and then increased to 88.5% significantly at the 24th weeks. At the 12th weeks, CAS decreased from(5.06±1.21) to(2.52±1.13), and then continued to decrease to(2.02±0.92) at the 24th week( P<0.05), the response rates were 82.7% and 90.4%, respectively. In addition, after 12 weeks of treatment, 58.1% of patients with diplopia improved significantly, and the response rate was 74.2% at the 24th weeks. Similarly, the degree of proptosis decreased significantly at the 12th and 24th weeks, and the response rates were 53.8% and 69.2%, respectively. No serious adverse events occurred during the treatment. Conclusion:The MMF therapy is efficient and safe for patients with active moderate to severe corticosteroid-resistant TAO.