AIM: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Mingjing decoction combining with argon laser on the levels of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR).
METHODS:The 66 patients(118 eyes)with DR at Ⅲ ~ Ⅴstage were randomly divided into two groups (treatment group and control group). The control group (33 patients with 56 eyes ) was treated with argon laser, and the treatment group (33 patients with 62 eyes) was treated with mingjing decoction combining with argon laser, and a blank group(30 eyes) was set up. The levels of plasma VEGF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results of best corrected visual acuity and fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) were analyzed, as well as detected glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c), blood coagulation function and the function of liver and kidney.
RESULTS: Patients with DR had significantly risen plasma VEGF before treatment when compared with blank control group ( P < 0. 05 ). After 3mo of combined treatment, the levels of plasma VEGF significantly reduced and HbA1c decreased in patients treated with mingjing decoction and argon laser, there were statistically significant difference compared to control group ( P < 0. 05 ). In the treatment group, the best corrected visual acuity and FFA were significantly improved in patients treated with mingjing decoction combining with argon laser compared to patients treated with argon laser alone after 3mo of combined treatment. CONCLUSION: Mingjing decoction combining with argon laser for DR can effectively reduce the level of plasma VEGF, stabilize blood sugar levels, improve the function of retina, and delay DR progresses.

10.3969/j.issn.1007-3969.2013.04.009

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of inhibitory effect of Erlotinib,an epidermal growth factor(VEGF) receptor inhibitor,on angiogenesis of pancreatic carncer.Methods①In a tube formation assay,Erlotinib(100?mol/L) was applied to the culture media and compared to the serum free media.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in BxPC-3 cells treated with Erlo- tinib at different concentrations(5,50,100,200?mol/L) was determined by RT-PCR.②The xeno grafts derived from BxPC 3 cancer cells were inoculated into the BALB/C nude mice.The mice were treated with either Erlotinib(100 mg/kg of Erlotinib oral lavage daily) or saline for four weeks.The vol- ume of the xenografts was measured and the tumor growth rate was calculated.The microvessel density (MVD) of tumor tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry with an antibody against factorⅧ. Results There were less endothelium cells and close hollow tubular structures in grlotinib treated group compared to the control group in the tube formation assay.The mean weight of xenografts in Erlotinib treated group[(0.397?0.550)g] was significantly lower than that in the control group[(1.570?1.060)g] with a inhibitary rate of 74.5%.The expression of VEGF mRNA in Ertotinib treated groups (=50?mol/L) were decreased comparing to the control group.The VEGF expression in xeno- grafts tumor tissues was also markedly down-regulated.The MVI) was significantly decreased in Erlotinib treated group( 1.86?0.43)than that in the control group (5.98?1.27,P

Objective:To investigate the role of anaphylatoxin C 5 a in patients with asthma .Methods:A prospective study was performed between September 2006 and February 2007.A total of 33 patients with acute exacerbation of asthma and 13 healthy subjects were recruited into the study .The patients with acute exacerbation of asthma were also studied when they returned to the remission state .Levels of lung function, levels of C5a in induced sputum and cell differential count in induced sputum were determined . Results:The level of C5 a in induced sputum was significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation of asthma [0.85(0.68-2.13) μg/L] than that in patients with stable asthma [0.45(0.26-0.88)μg/L, Z=-2.193, P=0.013];Sputum C5a levels in stable asthma patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [0.14(0.06-0.45) μg/L, Z=-2.141, P=0.015].The level of C5a in patients with severe exacerbation [2.21(1.27 -9.0) μg/L] was significantly higher than those in patients with mild exacerbation [0.34(0.17-0.63) μg/L] and moderate exacerbation [0.85(0.55-1.67) μg/L,χ2 =12.330, P=0.001].The level of C5a in induced sputum was positively correlated with the number of total cells count (r=0.797, P=0.004), neutrophils (r=0.504, P=0.032) and macrophages ( r =0.424, P=0.036 ) in acute exacerbation of asthma .Conclusion: C5a levels in induced sputum could be identified as an important prognostic biomarker , which involved in asthma ’ s pathogenesis .

The content of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of Panax notoginseng in different productive area was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis was made on a C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) with acetonitrile and water containing 4.1 g x L(-1) sodium acetate as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity within the range of 0.01 - 1.03 g x L(-1). The average recovery of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng was 101.7% (RSD 1.1%, n = 3) and 97.3% (RSD 0.38%, n = 3), respectively. The contents of GABA in the samples of different productive areas were not significant different, and the average contents of GABA in the stems and leaves of P. notoginseng and the flowers of P. notoginseng were 0.49% and 0.53%. This method was simple and reliable, and it was suitable for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the aerial part of P. notoginseng.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; analysis

Objective To explore left ventricular remodeling index(LVRI),systolic function and their correlation by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE)in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods According to coronary artery angiography,one main vessel stenosis no less than 50% was defined as positive standard,RT-3DE data of 24 patients with left circumflex coronary artery or/and right coronary artery stenosis(LCA/RCA group),21 patients with left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis(LAD group),27 patients with double or triplex coronary arteries stenosis which must included LAD(vessels group)and 22 normal controls(NC group)were acquired.Left ventricular end-diastolic volume(EDV),left ventricular end-diastolic epicardial volume(EDVepi),left ventricular ejection fraction(EF)were automatically measured by RT-3DE analysis software;left ventricular mass[1.05×(EDVepi-EDV)],LVRI(left ventricular mass/EDV)were calculated.The inter-group differences of LVRI,EF and intra-group correlations between LVRI and EF were analyzed.Results LVRI and EF significantly decreased in order(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);and their correlation coefficents were r=0.10(P＞0.05),0.86(P＜0.01),0.83(P＜0.01)and 0.77(P＜0.01)in NC group,LCA/RCA group,LAD group,vessels group,respectively.Conclusions LVRI measured by RT-3DE can assess left ventricular remodeling,and reflect left ventricular systolic function in different CAD,which can be as a new approach for evaluating left ventricular remodeling in clinic.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of butyl alcohol extract of baitouweng decoction (BAEB) on the fungal cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), filamentation and biofilm formation of Candida tropicalis.

METHODGradual dilution method was used to determine the MIC. XTT assay was applied to determine the SMIC80. Time-Kill assay was employed to draw the Time-Kill curve. The water-hydrocarbon two-phase assay was used to measure the cell surface hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to observe the morphological changes of the biofilm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was applied to determine the thickness of the biofilm. The quantification real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect expression changes of releated genes (UME6, ALST3 and NRG1). result: The MICs of BAEB against C. tropicalis strains are determined as 64-128 mg x L(-1). The SMIC80 s of BAEB against the biofilm of Candida tropicalis strains are determined as 256-512 mg x L(-1). Time-Kill curve results indicate that BAEB has a promise fungicidal effect at 256 and 512 mg x L(-1). SEM results shows that 512 mg x L(-1) BAEB can inhibit the formation of C. tropicalis biofilm on Silicone catheter, and the morphology of biofilm is also affected by BAEB. The thickness of C. tropicalis biofilm is reduced by BAEB according to CLSM results. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results indicate that expression of UME6 and ALST3 are significantly down-regulated by BAEB 256,512 mg x L(-1), and NRG1 is not affected by BAEB.

CONCLUSIONBAEB inhibits effectively the CSH, filamentation and biofilm formation of VVC strains of C. tropicalis.

Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Candida tropicalis ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Candidiasis ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; drug effects ; Humans ; Virulence Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To construct PPAR?and PPAR?response element (PPRE)-controlled luciferase expression vectors,and to determine whether the traditional Chinese medicine emodin activates PPAR?and improves the glucose uptake by HepG2 hepatocytes.Methods (1) PPAR?and PPRE luciferase expression vectors were constructed and were applied to screen more than 20 ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine. (2) HepG2 cells were incubated with emodin which can activate PPAR?and PPRE luciferase activity,and the PPAR?mRNA expression level was evaluated by RT-PCR/Southern blot.(3) PPAR?and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) proteins were determined by Western blot analysis in HepG2 cells treated with emodin.(4) The glucose uptake rate was measured using 2-deoxy-[~3H]-D-glucose in HepG2 cells after treatment with emodin.Results (1) Emodin stimulated luciferase activity controlled by PPRE in dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.04 to 180?mol/L in COS-7 cells.The highest value was about 4 folds of control in the cells treated with 90?mol/L emodin (P

Objective To analyse the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test(HDDST)-related differences in the clinical and biochemical features of the patients with Cushing's disease Methods Cases were drawn from 60 consecutive patients with Cushing's disease,who were then divided into two groups according to the response to the HDDST.The clinical and biochemical features between two groups were compared.Results(1) Of the 60 patients with Cushing's disease,23.3%(14/60)of patients(group A)did not yield results of suppression with the HDDST,and the others(group B)did.No difference was found in the age[(33.8?10.4 vs 36.2?11.2)years]and duration of illness[(2.1?1.6 vs 3.9?3.1)years]between two groups.(2)In clinical features,the patients in group A were more likely to have edema of lower limbs(64.3% vs 32.6%),hypokalemia (71.4% vs 28.3%),secondary diabetes(57.1% vs 26.1%)and purple striae(85.7% vs 54.3%,all P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of epididymal hypofunction of rats with varicocele (VC) by observing the changes in the epididymal index, motility of epididymal sperm, expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and the tumor suppressor protein p53, and epididymal epithelial cells.

METHODSNinety SD rats were equally randomized to a VC model (A), a sham operation (B), and a normal control group (C). At 49 days after surgery, all the rats were executed after weighing. Then the volume of the left epididymis was obtained, the epididymal sperm motility was detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), the expressions of HIF-1 alpha and p53 in the epididymal tissue were determined by Western-blot, and the epididymal epithelial cells were observed by HE staining.

RESULTSVC models were successfully established in 27 of the rats. One-way ANOVA test showed no statistically significant differences in the epididymis index among groups A ([40.53 +/- 1.76] x 10 (-5)) , B ([43.31 1.58] x 10( -5)) , and C ( [44. 10 +/- 2.62] x 10 -5) (P > 0.05). Sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm were significantly lower in group A ([71.86 +/- 5.07]% and [42. 26 +/-4.45]%) than in B ([78.51 4.50]% and [49.08 +/-4. 19]% ) and C ( [79.24 +/- 2.70] % and [52. 23+/- 2. 23] % ) (both P <0.05) , while the expressions of HTF-1 a and p53 were remarkably higher in A (1.74 +/- 0. 16 and 1.71 +/- 0. 11) than in B (0.32 +/- 0. 08 and 0.56 +/- 0.13) and C (0.12 +/- 0. 03 and 0.25 +/-0.06) (both P < 0.05). The epididymal epithelial cells in group A were obviously decreased in number and arranged in loose and disorderly patterns as compared with those in B and C.

CONCLUSIONVaricocele can cause hypoxia in the epididymal tissue, which in turn may lead to epididymal hypofunction.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism