To investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of hyperoside (Hyp) on the vascular endothelium function in middle cerebral artery (MCA) ex vivo in rats. Isolated arterial segments from MCAs of rats were used for surveying vasomotoricity in a pressurized chamber. Transmembrane potential was recorded by using glass microelectrodes to evaluate hyperpolarization. Hyp (1 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4) mol . L-1) was utilized to observe the effect on 1 x 10(-7) mol . L-1 U46619-preconstricted MCA in rats. The results showed that 1 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4) mol . L-1 Hyp significantly induced concentration-dependent vasodilatation and hyperpolarization, leading to the maximal diastolic ratio of (73. 2 ± 6. 1)% and maximal changes in membrane potentials of (-13. 2 ± 2. 2) mV. Hyp still elicited vasorelaxation and hyperpolarization by removal of endothelium in MCA of rat, which was notably attenuated as compared with vascular endothelium-intact group (P <0. 01). In the MCAs preconstricted by U46619 (1 x 10(-7) mol . L-1), Hyp (1 x 10(-6)-1 x 10(-4) mol . L-1) produced concentration-dependent vasorelaxation and hyperpolarizition that were partially attenuated by 3 x 10(-5) mol . L-1 L-NAME(a NOS inhibitor) plus 1 x 10(-5) mol . L-1 PGI2 ,(a synthetase inhibitor). The residual effects were further decreased by 1 x 10(-3) mol . L-1 TEA (an inhibitor of Ca2+-activated potassium channel) or 1 x 10(-5) mol . L-1 PPG (a blocker of endogenous H2S synthese-CSE). Similarly, 1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3) mol . L-1 NaHS (a donor of exogenous H2S) or 1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3) mol . L-1 L-Cys (the substrate of endogenous H2S synthesis) obviously evoked dose-dependent vasodilatation and hyperpolarization of MCA in rats. These findings indicated that Hyp may induce endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent responses. And the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation may be related to the increases of endogenous H2S that has been promoted Hyp in the endotheliocyte of MCAs, and activated Kca and opening of Kca channels, resulting in the hyperpolarization of vascular smooth muscle cell membrane and subsequent reduction of Ca2+ influx and vasodilation.
Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfides ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

To investigate the protective effect of preconditioning with hyperoside ( Hyp) against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats and the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. MIRI was established by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min in rats. Male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group,model group (MIRI),Hyp preconditioning group(Hyp), Hyp preconditioning + LY294002 (a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor) group (Hyp + LY), and LY294002 group (LY). At the end of reperfusion, hemodynamic parameters were recorded as left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) , left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ( LVEDP) and maximal rate of increase and decrease of left ventricular pressure (± dP/dt(max)). Myocardial infaret size, the oxidative stress markers, myocardial enzymes indicators and inflammatory factors were also analyzed. The expressions of Akt, p-Akt, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was detected by using Western blot method. The results showed that Hyp preconditioning remarkably improved cardiac constriction and relaxation function, reduced myocardial infarct size and enhanced the activities of oxidative stress markers about correlated to MIRI, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) as compared with MIRI group. Simultaneouly, the levels of myocardial enzymes, i. e. creatine kinase ( CK) and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and inflammatory factors, for instance tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased. Hyp pretreatment apparently restrained myocardial apoptosis as evidenced by decreasing the level of Bax expression, increasing the levels of phosphorylation of Akt and Bcl-2 expression. These effects were inhibited by LY294002, a blocker of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These findings indicated that the cardioprotection of Hyp preconditioning against MIRI may be related to activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, upregulating the expression of BCL-2 protein and down-regulating the expression of Bax protein.
Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective Inflammation plays a critical role in the presence , development and maintenance of atrial fibrillation ( AF) , but it remains unclear what factors induce inflammation in AF patients , especially in those with valvular heart disease ( VHD) . The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of the shedding of Syndecan -4 in left atrial inflammation in patients with valvular atrial fibrillation. Methods Sixty VHD patients scheduled for valvuloplasty or valve replacement surgery were divided into three groups of equal number:sinus rhythm (SR), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PaAF), and persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF).Another 10 pa-tients with congenital heart disease but no valve damage and atrial fibrillation were included in a control group .Baseline clinical data were recorded and tissues were obtained from the left atrial appendage during operation .The expressions of iNOS , HMGB1, and Syn-decan-4 in the left atrium were detected by Western blot , and the pathological changes of the left atrial tissue observed by HE staining . Results Western blot analysis was performed to detect expression levels of proteins .The iNOS level was significantly higher in pa-tients from the paroxysmal AF group (1.61 ±0.10) and persistent AF group (1.67 ±0.08) than those from sinus group (1.06 ± 0.11) and control group (1.02 ±0.12), as was the protein level of HMGB1 (0.63 ±0.05, 0.95 ±0.10, 0.45 ±0.07 and 0.46 ± 0.06 in paroxysmal AF group, persistent AF group, sinus group and controlgroup respectively ).Inflammatory cell infiltration in-creased, while syndecan 4 was down-regulated in AF groups.All these comparisons were significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The decreased expression of Syndecan-4 and enhanced inflammatory response in the left atrial tissue indicate that the shedding of Synde-can-4 may play a role in the presence and development of inflamma-tion in the left atrium .

To screen antitumor active compounds, drug-like or leading compounds from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs.

Objective: To observe the conditions of the activating areas in the brain evoked by needling Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint. Methods: Twelve healthy young volunteers were needled at Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint with rotating and twisting techniques. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was adopted to detect the brain activating areas, TR/TE/FA=3560 ms/50 ms/90°. After scanning, the images were dealt with SPM2. Results: Needling Shenmen (HT 7) primarily activated BA2 and BA1 of the gyms postcentralis in right-sided frontal lobe, BA47 of left-sided inferior frontal gyms and BA43 of left-sided gyms postcentralis, and also activated BA40 of inferior parietal lobule in right-sided parietal lobe, BA22 of gyrus temporalis superior in left-sided lobus temporalis, and BA40 of right-sided insula; however, the sham acupoints could not activate these nucleus. Conclusion: Needling Shenmen (HT 7) can activate the relevant functional areas in the brain.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P) is an important bioactive lipid produced from cell membrane sphingomyelin metabolism process.S1P and cell membrane surface S1P receptors(S1PR1-5) are G protein coupled receptors(GPCRs), which influence the formation of new blood vessels in the immune system via combining the related inflammatory signaling pathway.This review describes briefly the effects of S1P and S1PRs on autoimmune disease angiogenesis through intracellular signal transduction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus.Further research will be a new therapeutic target on vascular inflammation of autoimmune diseases.

Objective To prepare a kind of Gelsolin-targeted ultrasound contrast agent (GSN-PLGA) and to explore its targeting and imaging effection in vitro.Methods The high molecular PLGA-COOH ultrasound contrast agents were prepared by a modified double emulsion technique and then conjugated with Gelsolin monoclonal antibody by carbodiimide technique.The physical property of contrast agent was determined.And the connectivity condition of ultrasound contrast agent with Gelsolin monoclonal antibody was estimated.The targeting ability and the effect of enhancing ultrasound imaging in vitro were explored.Results The average diameter of GSN-PLGA was (575.67 ± 4.71) nm.The potential was (-11.46±1.19) mV.And the binding rate of Gelsolin monoclonal antibody was 96.93％.In vitro experimentshowed more GSN-PLGA could be intaked by Hca-F cells and the ultrasound imaging cloud be enhanced greatly.Conclusion The GSN-PLGA nanoparticle can bind to Hca-F cells specifically and can enhance the ultrasound imaging greatly.

In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) that "kidney storing essence and governing reproduction", reproductive essence is an important part of the kidney essence and acts as the original material of offspring embryos. Sperm, oocyte and zygote should be all included in the range of reproductive essence. Ovum is the essence of reproduction from inborn. The follicles maturation depends on the quality of oocyte and the vigor of kidney essence. Meanwhile, discharge of mature ovum relies on the stimulation and promotion by kidney Qi. Autophagy almost exists in different cells stages and all various of mammalian cells. Many studies have found that autophagy not only participates in the formation of follicles, but also in every phase of the follicles development, and is involved in the occurrence and development of ovarian diseases. Recently, more and more scholars believe that autophagy is a new field to explore the microcosmic relationship between autophagy and TCM. Kidney-nourishing TCM could promote follicular growth and improve variety clinical symptoms by inhibiting the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and reducing follicular atresia. Meanwhile, apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells is closely related to autophagy of ovarian granulosa cells. In order to provide some theoretical foundation for kidney-nourishing therapy's promoting effect on follicular growth and improving effect on ovarian function, also to further explore the molecular mechanism of kidney-nourishing medicine in promoting follicular development, this paper would explain the microcosmic relationship between autophagy and follicular development based on the theory of "kidney governing reproduction". All of these would be of great significance to prevent and intervene the diseases of reproductive system timely and effectively.

Humans ; Lithiasis ; surgery ; Liver Diseases ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Situs Inversus ; complications ; surgery

The larvae of musca domestica were put in use to discard the dead tissue of a case of severe burn. A total of 50 000 aseptic maggots were put onto the infective wound surface, and aseptic dressings overlaid the surface. Three days later, another 20 000 maggots were put onto the wound for the second therapy. After twice maggot debridement, most necrotic muscle tissues of the wound were cleaned up, and eventually fresh granulation tissue grew and later the wound was covered and healed by 3 times of skin grafting. The result demonstrates that maggot therapy is safe and effective with no adverse complications except pain.
Animals ; Burns ; Debridement ; Humans ; Larva ; Skin Transplantation ; Wound Healing