Five flavone C-glycosides were isolated from the methanol extract of the degrease seeds of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa though various column chromatography methods including silica gel, MPLC, and HPLC. The structures were elucidated as 6"-feruloyl- 6'''-vanillylspinosin(1), 6",6'"-diferuloylspinosin(2), spinosin(3), swertisin(4) and isoswertisin(5) based on the NMR and MS spectral data. 1 is a new compound.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Ziziphus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore internal fixation whether can improve the clinical outcomes of decompression and posterolateral fusion in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

METHODSFrom December 1998 to December 2005, 49 patients who had degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent decompression and posterolateral fusion without (group A, 21 cases) or with (group B, 28 cases) internal fixation (CD HORIZON M8 system). There were 12 males and 37 females with a mean age of 58.5 years (range, from 49 to 68 years). Among them,32 cases were grade I and 17 were grade II according to Meyerding grade system. All patients were followed up with an average of 58 months (range from 12 to 90 months). The pain of low back and leg (VAS scoring), spinal active function and neurologic function were evaluated according the assessment system of Yuan.

RESULTSThe VAS score of low back in group A and B were respectively 41.9 +/- 7.5 and 32.8 +/- 6.2 at follow-up; and VAS score of leg in group A and B were respectively 33.9 +/- 7.3 and 30.8 +/- 6.2. Spinal active function of patients, 15 cases obtained improvement, 6 cases aggravation or no improvement in group A; 25 cases obtained improvement, 3 cases aggravation or no improvement in group B. Neurologic function of patients, 15 cases obtained improvement, 6 cases aggravation or no improvement in group A; 26 cases obtained improvement, 2 cases aggravation or no improvement in group B. The group B was better than group A in the aspect of low back pain, spine active function and neurologic function (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in improvement of leg pain between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing internal fixation in decompression and posterolateral fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis can improve low back pain and clinical function. Decompression is necessary for the surgical treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis, which is major effect on the improvement of leg pain.

Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylolisthesis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Death, Sudden ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans

OBJECTIVEAlveolar type II (AT II) cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of pulmonary surfactant homeostasis and pulmonary immunity. The effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the ultrastructure of AT II cells after acute lung injury remain unknown. This study focused on the ultrastructural changes caused by acute lung injury and on the effects of Dex administration on these ultrastructural changes in young rats.

METHODSSeventy-two 21-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, acute lung injury and Dex-treated groups. Rats in the lung injury group were intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in order to induce acute lung injury, while the control rats were injected with the same amount of normal saline (NS). The Dex-treated group was injected first with LPS followed 1 hr later by Dex (5 mg/kg) injection. Eight rats in each group were sacrificed 24, 48 and 72 hrs after LPS or NS injection. Lung samples were obtained from the lower parts of left lungs and fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscope examination.

RESULTSMicrovilli of AT II cells disappeared and the number of lamellar bodies (LBs) increased in the lung injury group 24 hrs after LPS injection. The ring-like arrangement of LBs around nuclei was present until 48 hrs after LPS injection. By 48 hrs after LPS injection, giant LBs with vacuole-like abnormalities appeared. The shape of nuclei became irregular and the border of the nuclei became blurred. By 72 hrs after LPS injection, the number of LBs was obviously reduced; nucleoli disappeared; and karyolysis occurred in some of the nuclei. In contrast, in the Dex-treated group, LBs crowded on one side of AT II cells and exocytosis appeared on the same side by 24 hrs after LPS injection. By 48 hrs, the number of LBs was reduced. The number of mitochondria increased, and some of them became swollen and enlarged. However, by 72 hrs, the number of LBs increased and the ring-like arrangement of LBs around the nucleus again appeared.

CONCLUSIONSUltrastructural changes of AT II cells following lung injury induced by LPS were time-dependent in young rats. Dex may ameliorate AT II cell injury and promote functional restoration of AT II cells in LPS-induced acute lung injury.

Animals ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVEPulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) plays an important role in the maintenance of pulmonary surfactant function and innative immune defence. This study aimed to explore the changes of SP-A concentration in the lungs of young rats with acute lung injury.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control and lung injury groups. Acute lung injury was induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (4 mg/kg) in the lung injury group. The same amount of normal saline was given for the control group. The two groups were subdivided into 6 groups sacrificed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hrs of injection (n=8 each). Western blot was employed to detect SP-A concentration in the lung tissues.

RESULTSSP-A concentration in the lung injury group was not different from the the control group within 12 hrs after LPS injection. SP-A concentration in the lung injury group was elevated significantly during 24-48 hrs after LPS injection, peaking at 36 hrs (6.94+/-0.80 vs 5.01+/-0.36; P< 0.01), compared with the controls. However, SP-A concentration in the lung injury group was significantly reduced 72 hrs after LPS injection compared with the controls (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe changes of lung SP-A concentration in rats following acute lung injury were time-dependent. The transient elevation of SP-A concentration in the lungs indicated a strong compensation ability of SP-A in the host defence against acute lung injury.

Animals ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Lung ; chemistry ; Male ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impacts of three different surgical approaches to urethral stricture on the erectile function of the patients.

METHODSThis study included 126 male patients with urethral stricture, 35 treated by substitution urethroplasty (group A), 52 by anastomotic urethroplasty (group B), and 39 by internal urethroplasty (group C). We evaluated the pre- and postoperative erectile function of the patients using IIEF-5 scores by telephone calls and interviews. We also monitored their nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT).

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores in groups A, B and C were 13.5 +/- 4.5, 11.1 +/- 4.8 and 14.5 +/- 4.41 respectively after surgery, all significantly decreased as compared with 17.1 +/- 2.6, 17.1 +/- 3.0 and 17.6 +/- 2.2 preoperatively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll the three surgical approaches can reduce IIEF-5 scores in patients with urethral stricture, but anastomotic urethroplasty may induce a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction than the other two approaches.

Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo screen proteins interacting with HCV NS4A protein in leukocytes by yeast-double hybridization.

METHODSThe bait plasmid pGBKT7-NS4A was transformed into yeast AH109 was transformed, and the expressing of the fusion protein was identified by SDS-page. The transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing leukocytes cDNA library plasmid in 2xYPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) and synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-alpha-gal for selecting two times and screening. After extracting and sequencing of plasmid from blue colonies, analysis was conducted by bioinformatics. And, the gene encoding the interesting protein was cloned, and back-cross was performed.

RESULTSForty-five colonies were sequenced, among them, 29 colonies were human calcium modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAML). The gene encoding CAML was cloned, and the interaction between NS4A and CAML was ensured.

CONCLUSIONSeven kinds of proteins interacting with NS4A in leukocytes were successfully screened and the results brought some new clues for studying the pathogenesis of HCV.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Transformation, Genetic ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo screen genes related to peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer.

METHODSSpecimens of primary cancer and normal mucosa tissues were collected from 3 patients with peritoneal metastasis of colorectal cancer. The total RNA were extracted and inversely transcribed into cDNA to synthesize aRNA using in vitro RNA synthesis. The synthesized aRNA, after labeling with Cy3, were hybridized with the whole human genome oligo microarray. The Empirical Bayes method was used to screen the differentially expressed genes, followed by confirmation of the selected genes by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSWith a threshold of P≤0.05, a total of 105 differentially expressed genes were identified in primary cancer lesions, including 42 up-regulated and 63 down-regulated genes. Three of the up-regulated genes (S100P, PRDX1 and SLPI) were selected and confirmed by RT-PCR, which yielded results consistent with those from gene microarray.

CONCLUSIONGene microarray technique can provide valuable clues for locating the tumor markers of peritoneal metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; secondary ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; genetics ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; genetics ; secondary ; Peroxiredoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the relationship between the ultrastructural alterations of alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC-II) and pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) levels in the lung tissue of young rats with acute lung injury (ALI) in order to explore the possible mechanism of ALI.

METHODSForty-eight young Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and ALI groups. The rats in the ALI group were intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in order to induce ALI. The control subjects were injected with the same volume of normal saline. Rats were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 72 hrs after LPS or NS injection. Lung samples were obtained from the lower parts of the left lung and fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde for transmission electron microscope examination and for Western blot test of SP-A.

RESULTSThe microvilli of AEC-II disappeared 24 hrs after LPS injection. After 24 and 48 hrs of LPS injection, lamellar body (Lb) increased in number, enlarged in size and reduced in density, and the ring-like arrangement of Lb was present. By 48 hrs after LPS injection, giant Lb with vacuole-like deformity appeared. The contents of lung SP-A in the ALI group 24 hrs (6.52+/-0.62 vs 5.02+/-0.35; P<0.01) and 48 hrs (6.65+/-0.62 vs 5.01+/-0.36; P<0.01) after LPS injection were significantly higher than those in the control group. By 72 hrs after LPS injection, Lbs ruptured and were reduced in number. The shape of the nuclei was irregular and the border was blurred. The content of lung SP-A was greatly reduced in the ALI group 72 hrs after LPS injection compared with that in the control group (3.87+/-0.50 vs 5.22+/-0.36; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe alterations of AEC-II and lung SP-A were time-dependent in young rats with ALI induced by LPS. In the early stage of ALI, the lung SP-A content showed a compensatory increase. With the increasing injury of AEC-II cells, the secretion of SP-A presented with a decompensation and the lung SP-A content decreased. This may be one possible mechanism for the development of ARD.

Animals ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo examine the prognosis of preretinal hemorrhage following vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

METHODSClinical data of 76 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with vitrectomy and silicone oil infusion tamponade in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital from October 2006 to September 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Intraoperative bleeding,postoperative preretinal bleeding,blood reabsorption time, and preretinal fibrosis were assessed.

RESULTSAll preretinal hemorrhage developed within 1 week after surgery, blood was distributed in thin and scattered patterns (32 cases), thick and localized patterns (25 cases) or thick and scattered patterns (19 cases). The preretinal hemorrhage was ceased in 1 day after operation in 35 cases, in 2 days after operation in 18 cases, in two weeks after operation in 23 case. Recurrent hemorrhage occurred within 1 week after operation in 15 cases. Thin blood was largely reabsorbed in about two weeks, and thick blood was largely reabsorbed in about five weeks. Fibrosis tissue was resulted in 15 cases(34.1%) with thick blood.

CONCLUSIONMost of preretinal hemorrhage occurs within 1 week after surgery and is reabsorpted with 5 weeks in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy undergoing vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. The major complication of preretinal bleeding is the formation of preretinal fibrosis.

Diabetic Retinopathy ; surgery ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicone Oils ; therapeutic use ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; epidemiology