0.05).Heart rate was significantly slow in bisoprolol group(after treatment:66?4 vs before treatment:74?7 beats/min,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of obesity and hypertension on the size of the left atrium.

METHODSA total of 383 subjects were divided into normal group (NS, n = 95), hypertension group (HT, n = 97), obesity group (OB, n = 98) and hypertension with obesity group (HT + OB, n = 93). Clinical information, echocardiographic parameters and left atrial size in the four groups were compared.

RESULTS(1) The left atrial volume index (LAVI) was arranged in the order: HT + OB > OB > HT > NS (28.07 ± 6.63 > 24.61 ± 4.89 > 22.73 ± 5.16 > 19.18 ± 4.82 ml/m, P < 0.05); Difference on LAVI was significant in four groups after adjusting for age, gender, HR, FPG, TC, TG and HDL (P < 0.05). (2) Pearson correlation analysis showed closer correlation between BMI with LAVI compared to SBP and DBP with LAVI (r values: 0.505, 0.240, 0.209, P < 0.001). After adjusting for other factors, the correlation between BMI and LAVI remains significant (β = 0.411, P < 0.001) while no significant relationship between SBP, DBP and LAVI was found. One unit BMI increase is associated with 0.052 cm enlargement of left atrial diameter (LAD), 1.053 ml increase of left atrial volume (LAV) and 0.710 ml/m increase of LAVI.

CONCLUSIONThe impact of obesity on the size of left atrium is greater than that of hypertension. Obesity and hypertension have synergistic effects on enlarging left atria.

Adult ; Anthropometry ; Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; pathology ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; pathology

Jin's three-needle technique is named after Professor JIN Rui. The connotation of Jin's three-needle technique is summarized by his followers through long-term teaching and clinical practice. His principle and method of point combination are based on syndrome differentiation of acupuncture. And his unique needling technique and treating principle of mental tranquilization also play an important role in his clinical practice.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Needles

To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

The objective of the present study was to establish a method based on principal component analysis (PCA) for the study of transdermal delivery of Chinese medicinal formulae, and to choose the best penetration enhancers for Qingfei Xiaocuo gel depend on this method. Using improved Franz type diffusion cell and excised rat skin in vitro as transdermal barrier, the receptive solution fingerprint was established by HPLC, harvesting the areas of the common peaks in the fingerprint, then the total factor scores of the concentrations at different times were calculated using PCA and were employed instead of the concentrations to compute the cumulative amounts (Q12) and enhancement ratio (ER), the latter of which were considered as the indexes for optimizing penetration enhancers. Compare to the control group, the ER of the other groups increased significantly and furthermore, 2.5% azone with 2.5% menthol manifested the best effect. PCA represent most information in the receptive solution, the method above could choose the best penetration enhancers, it could be a reference for the study of transdermal delivery of Chinese medicinal formulae.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Gels ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Principal Component Analysis ; Skin ; metabolism

AIM:To observe the effects of vitamin D on the apoptosis ,prolyl isomerase 1(Pin1)protein ex-pression and activity ,mitochondrial translocation of p 66Shc,and reactive oxygen species(ROS)production in high glu-cose-cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),and to explore the role of vitamin D receptor(VDR)in these processes.METHODS:HUVECs were treated with high glucose(33 mmol/L)in the presence or absence of vita-min D or Pin1 inhibitor juglone.The cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining.Intracellular ROS levels were examined by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.The protein levels of Pin1,p66Shc,p-p66Shc,mito-chondria to cytoplasm ratio of p66Shc,and caspase-3 in HUVECs were measured by Western blot.Pin1 activity in HU-VECs lysate was assessed by a commercial kit.Knockdown of VDR by siRNA was conducted to evaluate the role of VDR in the regulatory effects of vitamin D on Pin 1 protein expression and activity in HUVECs under high-glucose condition.RE-SULTS:Vitamin D suppressed the apoptosis and intracellular ROS generation of HUVECs induced by high glucose(P<0.05).Vitamin D inhibited high glucose-induced upregulation of Pin1 protein expression and activity(P<0.05).Vita-min D inhibited the phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of p 66Shc and caspase-3 protein expression induced by high glucose(P<0.05).Knockdown of VDR by siRNA abolished the inhibitory effects of vitamin D on high glucose-in-duced upregulation of Pin 1 protein expression and activity.CONCLUSION:Vitamin D alleviates high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by inhibition of Pin 1 protein expression and activity ,and attenuation of p66Shc-mediated mito-chondrial oxidative stress ,which are dependent on VDR activation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pathogenesis of acute leukemia (AL).

METHODSVEGF mRNA expression was analysed by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique. VEGF level of culture supernatant of the bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) was detected by ELISA. The influence of culture supernatant of the BMMNC on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell line huECV304 in vitro was determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe median VEGF/beta-actin expression level of BMMNC in newly diagnosed untreated AL group was higher (0.86) than that in remission group (0.41) and normal control group (0.39) (P < 0.01, both), but was no difference from the relapse group (1.02, P > 0.05). Among the patients with newly diagnosed untreated AL, VEGF/beta-actin level in AML (1.03) was statistically higher than that in ALL (0.61) (P < 0.05). The VEGF level in 72 h culture supernatant of BMMNC was higher in newly diagnosed untreated AL group (91.48 ng/L) than in remission group (31.91 ng/L) and normal control group (28.71 ng/L) (P < 0.01). In ALL group (32.76 ng/L), the VEGF level of 72 h culture supernatant was much lower than that in AML group (173.49 ng/L) (P < 0.01). The proliferation of huECV304 cells after co-cultured with the 72 h culture supernatant of AML BMMNC with addition of anti-VEGF antibody was inhibited notably compared with culture supernatant alone (P < 0.01). However, no such result was found in ALL group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mRNA expression and secretion of VEGF in AML cells were higher than those in ALL cells. The regulators that participated angiogenesis were different in ALL and AML patients.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology

From original concept and literature of acupoint, the concept and clinical significance of ashi method is discussed, which clarifies that the essence of ashi method is to locate the acupoints by patients' sensitivity on force. The clinical application of heat-sensitive moxibustion has illustrated that positioning method of this therapy is based on the appearance of heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation. Although both types are based on patients' feeling, positioning method of heat-sensitive moxibustion stands on a new angle and uses a new method to locate acupoint. Therefore, it is believed that the positioning method of heat-sensitive moxibustion is the inheritance and development of ashi method.
Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Moxibustion ; history ; methods ; Sensation

AIMTo establish a fluorospectrophotometric assay for the measurement of nitrite in blood.

METHODSInterference from hemoglobin and other blood ingredients was removed through sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment. Fluorescence of 1-[H]-naphthotriazole from the reaction of 2,3-diaminonaphthalene with nitrite was determined with fluorospectrophotometry.

RESULTSThe following conditions were proper: Serum or plasma was treated with sulfuric acid and phosphotungstic acid pretreatment for two times, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene of 0.63 mmol x (L(-1)) was used, reaction solution pH and final pH were about 1.60 and 1.70 respectively, solution containing 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and supernatant after pretreatment was water-bathed at 20 degrees C for 15 minutes. The lower limit of detection was 24.27 nmol x L(-1). Nitrite determined in peripheral blood of healthy people was (10.91 +/- 2.38) micromol x L(-1), and its 95% distribution range was (6.24-15.57) micromol x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONIt's a relatively sensitive, specific, simple method. It's of some value to the study of nitric oxide.

Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Nitrites ; blood

To construct the Bac-to-Bac expression system of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), a transfer vector was constructed which contained an Escherichia coli (E. coli) mini-F replicon and a lacZ: attTN7: lacZ cassette within the upstream and downstream regions of the BmNPV polyhedrin gene. B. mori larvae were cotransfected with wild-type BmNPV genomic DNA and the transfer vector through subcutaneous injection to generate recombinant viruses by homologous recombination in vivo. The genomic DNA of budded viruses extracted from the hemolymph of the transfected larvae was used to transform E. coli DH10B. Recombinant bacmids were screened by kanamycin resistance, PCR and restriction enzyme (REN) digestion. One of the bacmid colonies, BmBacJS13, which had similar REN profiles to that of wild-type BmNPV, was selected for further research. To investigate the infectivity of BmBacJS13, the polyhedrin gene was introduced into the bacmid and the resultant recombinant (BmBacJS13-ph) was transfected to BmN cells. The budded viruses were collected from the supernatant of the transfected cells and used for infecting BmN cells. Growth curve analysis indicated that BmBacJS13-ph had a similar growth curve to that of wild-type BmNPV. Bio-assays indicated that BmBacJS13-ph was also infectious to B. mori larvae.