OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective effects of punicosides on alcohol induced acute liver injury in mice and its possible mechanisms as well.

METHODThe 60 mice were randomly divided into normal control, model group, three dose groups of punicosides with low, medium and high, then there is silibinin group. Three dose groups of punicosides and silibinin were given in advance by gavage for 4 weeks, then the mouse model of alcoholic acute liver injury was established. The serum levels of ALT, AST and TG were determined, and the mice were killed to calculate somatic index of liver, thymus as well as spleen. MDA, SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST were detected in the liver homogenate. Histopathological changes of the liver were observed by HE staining. The expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in the liver tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTMid and high dose of punicosides reduced the liver index in mice significantly, improved liver steatosis, decreased the level of ALT, AST and TG in serum and the content of MDA in liver homogenate, furthermore the two dose groups increased the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and GSH-ST, inhibited the expression of MCP-1 and NF-kappaB in liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONPunicosides can protect the acute liver damage induced by alcohol.

Alcohols ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

To observe the effects of early intervention with effective components from a Chinese herbal formula (Huannao Yicong formula, HNYCF) on behavior and related indicators of cholinergic system in β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect and explore the mechanism of Huannao Yicong capsule in treating senile patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: The investigational drugs were packed by blind method. A randomized, double-blind and controlled trial was conducted on ninety senile patients with MCI. Other forty-five senile healthy persons were recruited to the healthy control group. The ninety senile patients were randomly divided into the Huannao Yicong capsule-treated group (45 patients administered with three Huannao Yicong capsules and two aniracetam capsule analogues) and aniracetam-treated group (45 patients treated with two aniracetam capsules and three Huannao Yicong capsule analogues). Patients in the two groups were treated three times daily for 16 weeks. Memory, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome, cerebral blood flow, free radicals and inflammatory mediators, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined before and after the treatment. Blood lipids, including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) and apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100), were detected before and after the treatment. The safety indexes, such as routine tests of blood and urine, hepatic and renal function tests and electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Index score of clinical memory scale in senile healthy people was significantly higher than that in MCI patients before treatment (P<0.01), and the content of AchE, IL-1alpha and IL-6 was obviously lower (P<0.01, P<0.05), the activity of SOD was higher (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in direction memory of clinical memory scale between the two treatment groups. Other index scores of clinical memory scale and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in patients of Huannao Yicong capsule-treated group were significantly improved as compared with those of the aniracetam-treated group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The blood flow parameters of anterior cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery and resistant index in patients of Huannao Yicong capsule-treated group were increased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05). Huannao Yicong capsule could significantly increase the activity of serum SOD and decrease the content of AchE, IL-1alpha and IL-6 (P<0.01, P<0.05), better than aniracetam. Furthermore, Huannao Yicong capsule could significantly improve the blood lipid, such as the level of TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, ApoA-1 and ApoB-100 (P<0.01, P<0.05), and better than aniracetam (P<0.01, P<0.05). No significant changes were found after treatment in safety indexes, such as routine tests of blood and urine, hepatic and renal function tests and ECG. CONCLUSION: Huannao Yicong capsule has better therapeutic effect than aniracetam capsule in treating senile mild cognitive impairment.

Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation of Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic significance of basophil activation test (BAT) in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media through testing the content of CD63, mast cell-carboxypeptidase A3 (MC-CPA3), and terminal complement complex SC5b-9 of the individuals by testing their levels in the normal immune group and the anaphylaxis groups to β-lactam drugs and non -ionic contrast media. METHODS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of MC-CPA3 in blood serum and SC5b-9 in blood plasma were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood, the levels of MC-CPA3 and SC5b-9 of anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media and β-lactam drugs were significantly higher than that in normal immune group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION There is activation of basophilic granulocytes, mast cells and complement system in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media. BAT can be used to diagnose the anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media.
Anaphylaxis/diagnosis* ; Basophils/cytology* ; Carboxypeptidases A/metabolism* ; Complement Membrane Attack Complex/metabolism* ; Contrast Media ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes/cytology* ; Humans ; Mast Cells/cytology* ; Tetraspanin 30/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Huannao Yicong formula (HNYCF) extract on behavior and ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area of APP transgenic mice of different months, and explore its partial mechanism in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the perspective of energy metabolism.

METHODOne hundred and twenty APP695V717I transgenic mice of 3-month old were divided randomly into model group, Donepezil group (0.65 x 10(-3) g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), HNYCF extract large dose group (2.8 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and HNYCF extract small dose group (1.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and 30 mice in each group. Another 30 C57BL/6J mice with the same age and background were used as normal control group. All animals were administered once daily by gavage with the corresponding drug or distilled water. The course of intervention was 4 and 6 months. Behavioral changes were observed by Morris water maze test and step down test. Ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area was observed by transmission electron microscope.

RESULTAt the age of 7 and 9 month, the number of times of passing through platform, swimming time and path length of model group increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in Morris water maze test, and the latent period decreased (P < 0.01) in step down test compared with normal group, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could increase the number of times of passing through platform, swimming time and path length (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in Morris water maze test, prolong latent period in step down test of different age. At the age of 7 and 9 month, mitochondrial of hippocampus CA1 area was disrupted and dissolved. Most ridge structure arranged in a mess, and some ridge showed expanding, matrix loosing and swollen appearance, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could improve ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area, and increase its quality.

CONCLUSIONLearning and memory ability decreased in APP transgenic mice model, and the quantity of neural mitochondria in hippocampus CA1 area with structure disrupting, and it would get worse with the development of disease course. HNYCF extract could improve the learning and memory ability of APP transgenic mice model, its mechanism might relate with improving ultrastructure of mitochondria in hippocampus, and increasing its quantity.

Age Factors ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms

This study was aimed to explore the expression and significance of DNMT1 gene in bone marrow of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The expression of DNMT1 gene was detected by real-time PCR in 30 healthy people and 126 AML patients. The results showed that the expression level of DNMT1 gene was lower in the 30 healthy people and was higher in AML patients. There was a marked decline in the expression level of DNMT1 gene after complete remission (CR) as compared with the initial treatment. The expression level of DNMT1 gene did not correlated with age, sex and the clinical characteristics at initial diagnosis such as white blood cell count and chromosomal karyotype in AML patients. The CR rate in AML patients with low expression level of DNMT1 gene was lower than that in those with high expression level. It is concluded that bone marrow DNMT1 gene level may play an important role in AML pathogenesis and can serve as an index in evaluating AML prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the security and efficacy of one stage and bilateral resection of thymic tissue and clearance of mediastinal fat by uniportal-video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS) to cure patients with myasthenia gravis(MG).Methods A number of 131 patients with MG who underwent resection of thymic tissue and clearance of mediastinal fat by VATS in one single center from February 2009 to December 2013 were selected in this retrospective study.76 patients underwent unilateral resection of thymic tissue and clearance of mediastinal fat by three portal VATS from February 2009 to March 2012 and 55 patients underwent one stage and bilateral resection of thymic tissue and clearance of mediastinal fat by small uniportal-VATS from April 2012 to December 2013.The time for operation,the bleeding volume during operation,the volume of postoperative drainage and drainage time,the improvement of symptoms,the postoperative pain,hospital stays and the occurrence of myasthenia gravis crisis were compared between the two groups.Results The general condition and pathological type did not have significant statistical differences between the two groups.The operating time in the uniportal-VATS group was significantly longer than that in three portal VATS group,but the pain was lighter,and the hospital stay was shorter.There were no significant differences between groups in terms of blood loss,postoperative drainage time,and volume of drainage.The follow-up was from 32 to 90 months,and 118 (90.08％)patients completed the follow up.94.5 ％ of the patients in uniportalVATS group acquired complete stable remission(CSR),while it was 84.2％ in three portal VATS group(P ＜ 0.05),and the uniportal-VATS group had lower rate of myasthenic crisis (P ＜0.05).Conclusion One stage and bilateral resection of thymic tissue and clearance of mediastinal fat by small uniportal-VATS is safe and effective with shorter hospital stay and less pain,and it can get higher CSR and less myasthenic crisis,its efficacy is superior to traditional three portal VATS.

Objective To explore whether lipoxin A4 (LXA4)could prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) monolayer hyperpermeability and its possible mechanism. Methods Human umbilical cords were obtained from women with normal pregnancy immediately after delivery from Tongji Hospital Affiliated of Tongji Medical College. Primary HUVEC were isolated from umbilical veins and subcultured, then, HUVEC were divided into four groups:control group;LPS group (10 mg/L of LPS); LPS + LXA4 group(10 mg/L of LPS and 100 nmol/L of LXA4); LPS +LXA4 + BOC-2 group [10 μmol/L of BOC-2, an effective antagonist of formyl peptide receptor like 1 (FPRL-1)]. All expriments were performed after cells were treated for 24 hours. Endothelial permeability was measured by fluorescein isothiocyan-ate labelled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) clearance across the monolayer; tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-o) mRNA and secretion were detected by reverse transcriplase (RT) -PCR and ELISA assay respectively, and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB) protein change was determined by western blot. Results (1) LPS induced a significant increase in the permeability [Pa value of LPS group was (183.1 ±1.7)%], while co-administrating with LXA4 obviously attenuated this LPS-induced hyperpermeability, Pa value of LPS + LXA4 group was (103.1 ±2.2)%, LPS + LXA4 + BOC-2 group was (162.2 ± 2.8)%, control group was 100%, the permeability of HUVEC monolayer was significantly increased by LPS which was (83.1 ± 1.7)% of control (P <0.01), however, it was notably inhibited by LXA4 (P<0.05); the blockade of FPRL-1 could attenuate the effect of LXA4, that is, there was no difference between the LPS + LXA4 + BOC-2 group and the LPS group. (2) After treatment with different concentration of LPS(0,0.1, 1,10 mg/L), the mRNA expressions of TNF-α were increased (1.11 ±0.11,1.27 ± 0.03, 1.60 ± 0.06, 1.82 ± 0. 04, respectively), compared with the control group, at the concentration of 1,10 mg/L LPS, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). (3) The increased levels of NF-κB and inflammatory mediator TNF-α in the LPS group were both inhibited by LXA4. Levels of NF-κB protein and TNF-o mRNA secretion in LPS treated group (0.53 ±0.06 and 0.81 ±0.09 ,respectively)were both inhibited by LXA4 (0.19 ± 0.05 and 0.41 ± 0.07, respectively, and both had significant difference, P<0.05). (4) Levels of TNF-α in HUVEC culture medium of LPS group [(31.94 ±0.01)ng/L] was significantly higher than the control group [(18.17 ± 0.03) ng/L, P<0.05], LPS + LXA4 group [(15.72 ± 0.07) ng/L] was significantly lower than the LPS group (P<0.05). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that LXA4 could prevent the endothelial cell hyperpermeability induced by LPS in HUVEC under which the possible mechanism was through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and its related cytokines through receptor-dependent.