Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced brain injury in rats.Methods Fifty-four pathogen-free SD rats of both sexes, aged 6 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (group C, n = 6) ; LPS group (group L, n = 24) ; propofol group (group P, n = 24) . Brain injury was produced by injection of LPS 1 mg/kg via the left internal carotid artery in L and P groups. Propofol 100 mg/kg was injected intraperitonealry immediately after the LPS administration in group P, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of propofol in group L. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead of LPS and propofol in group C. Six rats in each group were sacrificed and the brain tissues were immediately removed at 24 h after intraperitoneal administration in group C, and at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after intraperitoneal administration in L and P groups for determination of brain water content, high-mobility group box 1 ( HMGB1) expression and NF-κB activity, and microscopic examination. Results The brain water content and NF-kB activity were significantly increased, and HMGB1 expression was up-regulated in group L as compared to group C (P ＜ 0.05) . The brain water content, expression of HMGB1 and NF-kB activity were significantly lower in group P than in group L ( P ＜ 0.05) . The microscopic examination showed that brain injury was attenuated in group P compared with group L. The brain water content was positively correlated with the HMGB1 expression and NF- κB activity (r = 0.692 and 0.769 respectively, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Propofol can reduce the LPS- induced brain injury by reducing inflammatory response of the brain tissues.

Elemene is a novel universal non-cytotoxic antitumor drug. Based on downregulation of VEGF expression, induction of apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and suppression of growth of tumor cell, elemene is becoming helpfully a promising inhibitor of angiogenesis, however, the detail mechanisms remains unclear and needs to be further elucidated.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix before and after being processed with vinegar in the toxicity on rat small intestinal crypt epithelial cells IEC-6, and make a preliminary study on the mechanism of detoxication of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar.

METHODWith rat small intestinal crypt epithelial cells IEC-6 as the study object, the MTT method was adopted to detect the effect of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix before and after being processed with vinegar on IEC-6 cell activity. The morphology of cells were observed by the inverted microscope. The down-regulated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of enterocytes caused by the vinegar processing was analyzed by using the high content screening.

RESULTCompared with the negative control group, the proliferation inhibition experiment showed that Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix showed a relatively high intestinal cell toxicity (P < 0.01). The results of HCS analysis showed that Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix could significantly reduce the cell nucleus Hoechst fluorescence intensity and mitochondria membrane (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and increase Annexin V-FITC and PI fluorescence intensity and membrane permeability (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). After being processed with vinegar, compared with Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix groups with different doses, Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar could significantly decrease the cell proliferation inhibition effect on enterocytes, increase the cell nuclear Hoechst fluorescence intensity and mitochondria membrane (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), and decrease Annexin V-FITC and PI fluorescence intensity and membrane permeability (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and showed a certain dose-effect relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe vinegar processing can further reduce the toxicity of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix on enterocytes. Its possible mechanism can decrease the effect of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix on the permeability of IEC-6 cell membrane, so as to provide a basis for further explanation of the detoxication mechanism of Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix processed with vinegar.

Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; Rats

Objective To retrospectively analyze the relationship of the classification and risk stratification in senile hypertension with benign prostatic byperplasia (BPH).Methods Totally 376 male senior patients,including 233 senile hypertensive patients and 143 non-hypertensive patients as a control,were enrolled in this study.There were 35 cases of hypertension at level 1,82 cases at level 2,116 cases at level 3.Based on risk stratification of hypertension,there were 3 cases of low-risk,28 cases of medium risk,75 cases of high-risk,127 cases of very high risk.All candidates accepted the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) assessment before the treatment.Fasting blood glucose (FBG),total cholesterol (TC),triglycerides (TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined.Body mass index (BMI) and prostate volume (PV) were calculated.Relationship of classification and risk stratification in hypertension with BPH were analyzed.Results The levels of systolic blood pressurc (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),body weight,BMI,FBG and TC were higher (t=3.883,2.498,2.161,3.399,2.200,2.370,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while serum HDL-C were lower (t=2.036,P＜0.05) in hypertensive patients than in control group.Compared with the control group,IPSS and PV was increased (t =3.432,3.381,both P＜0.01) in hypertension group.Risk rate of hypertensive patients with BPH was 2.03 times (95％CI:1.33-3.11,P＜0.01) as compared with control group.In hypertensive patients,PV and IPSS were higher in level 2 or 3 grade group than in level 1 group (F=6.890,7.576,all P＜0.01).PV and IPSS in high risk and very high risk groups were enhanced as compared with those in low-medium risk group (F=30.608,19.804,all P＜0.01).Pearson analysis showed that PV was positively correlated with SBP,FBG and TC(r=0.223,0.251,0.305,all P＜0.05),while negatively correlated with HDL-C(r =-0.235,P＜0.05).Similarly,IPSS was positively correlated with SBP,DBP and FBG (r=0.396,0.273,0.224,all P＜0.01),while negatively correlated with HDL-C (r =-0.288,P＜ 0.01).Conclusions High incidence of BPH appears in the elderly men with hypertension.The increased PV and IPSS coexist with conventional risk factors of essential hypertension.Development of BPH is closely related to higher blood pressure and risk stratifications of hypertension.

Objective To evaluate in vitro antifungal activities of five clinically common antifungal agents against Geotrichum silvicola,and to observe morphological changes of Geotrichum silvicola after treatment with terbinafine.Methods Five antifungal agents commonly used in clinic,including terbinafine (TER),amphotericin B (AmB),flucytosine (FC),fluconazol (FCZ) and itraconazole (ICZ),were tested in this study.According to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) M27-A2 document and relevant literatures,a susceptibility test was performed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the five antifungal agents against G eotrichum silvicola.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe morphological changes of Geotrichum silvicola treated with different concentrations of TER.Results The MIC values against Geotrichum silvicola were as follows:TER,0.01 μg/ml;AmB,0.4 μg/ml;FC,2 μg/ml;FCZ,2.69 μg/ml;ICZ,0.25 μg/ml.Geotrichum silvicola was sensitive to TER,AmB,FC and FCZ,and sensitive to ICZ in a dose-dependent manner.SEM revealed that after TER treatment,the surface of Geotrichum silvicola became rough and shrinking with irregular defects and holes,and even gave a fragment-like appearance.Conclusions Among the five tested antifungal agents,TER shows the strongest activity against Geotrichum silvicola.Within a certain range,the higher the concentration of TER,the more serious the damage to Geotrichum silvicola.

Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)-induced sodium dodecyl sulfate/dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (SDS/DTAB) catanionic surfactant coacervate extraction method coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect the migration of phthalates from disposable tablewares to drinking water. The concentration factors are larger than 82 and extraction recoveries over 53%for water samples spiked with 100 or 200 ng/mL phthalates. Limit of detection is in the range of 1.0–2.6 ng/mL. Good linearity with correlation coefficients larger than 0.9985 is obtained in the concentration of 20–1500 or 40–3000 ng/mL. Relative recoveries are from 82.4%to 123.6%for water samples spiked with 30/60, 250/500, and 1500/3000 ng/mL phthalates, respectively. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) are 0.4%–7.4% for intraday precision (n ? 5) and 0.6%–7.8% for interday precision (n ? 3). Four of studied phthalates are found in the drinking water samples prepared from four kinds of tablewares.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects and assess the feasibility of radiofrequency thermo- coagulation denervation(TRD)mediated by digital subtraction angiography(DSA)for patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome(LFJS).Methods Eighty LFJS patients were randomly divided into two groups:a denervated group(groupⅠ)and a control group (groupⅡ).The lumbar facet joints of the patients in groupⅠwere treated with TRD,while those in groupⅡhad their lumbar facet joint cavities injected with the mixture of 1 mg betamethasone and 1 ml lidocaine.All patients were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)before treatment and 30 rain,1 d, 1 w,1 m and 6 m after.Schober values were measured at 1 w,1 m and 6 m after treatment.The therapeutic effects and side effects were assessed at 6 m after treatment.Results VAS scores in groupsⅠandⅡat 30 min,1 d,1 w and 1 m after treatment were remarkably lower than before treatment.In addition,those in groupⅠ6m after treatment were also significantly lower(P＜0.01).Compared with those in the groupⅡ,VAS scores in groupⅠwere signifi- cantly decreased at 1 m and 6 m after treatment(P＜0.05 and P＜0.01,respectively).The schober values in groupⅠat 1 m and 6m were obviously increased in comparison with those in groupⅡ,while the therapeutic effects in groupⅠat 6m after treatment were better than those in groupⅡ(P＜0.01).There were no side effects,such as injuries to the nerve roots or dysfunctional dermal sensation,in either group.Conclusion TRD,mediated by DSA,has ther- apeutic effects on LFJS.Such treatment is safe,convenient,and gives long-term pain relief.

Objective To explore the effects of amlodipine,perindopril and valsartan on plasma adiponectin and retinol binding protein 4 in elderly patients with essential hypertension.Methods From March 2007 to July 2010,238 elderly patients with essential hypertension were selected and 193 cases completed this study.Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups:amlodipine group (n=68),perindoprilgroup (n=60) and valsartan group (n=65).Patients in each group were treated with amlodipine,perindopril and valsartan respectively for at least 12 weeks.The changes in blood pressure,heart rate,body height,body mass index (BMI),abdominal circumference,waist circumference (WC),levels of blood lipids,plasma adiponection and retinol binding protein 4 were observed before and after treatment.Results Compared with pre-treatment,systolic blood pressure in 3 groups were significantly decreased after treatment (all P＜0.01).There were no significant differences in blood pressure among 3 groups after treatment (all P＞0.05).Compared with pre treatment,plasma adiponectin level was significantly increased in perindopril group and valsartan group after treatment [(7.4±1.8) μg/L vs.(8.3± 1.8) μg/L,(7.5±1.7) μg/L vs.(8.4±1.9)μg/L,both P＜0.01].Plasma adiponectin level was higher in perindopril group and valsartan group than in amlodipine group after treatment [(8.3±1.8) μg/L vs.(7.6±1.8) μg/L,(8.4±1.9) μg/Lvs.(7.6±1.8) μg/L,both P＜0.05].Compared with pretreatment,plasma retinol binding protein 4 level in 3 groups were all decreased after treatment,and the decrements had significant differences in perindopril group and valsartan group (both P＜0.01) but had no difference in amlodipine group (P＞0.05).Plasma adiponectin retinol binding protein 4 levels were lower in perindopril group and valsartan group than in amlodipine group after treatment[(36.6± 14.2) μg/L vs.(42.7± 13.8) μg/L,(36.3±14.1) μg/L vs.(42.7±13.8) μg/L,respectively,both P＜0.01].Conclusions Perindopril and valsartan play important roles in cardiovascular protection beyond the antihypertensive effects by increasing plasma adiponection level and decreasing plasma retinol binding protein 4 level in elderly patients with hypertension.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum cystatin C (Cys C)content and renal function in aged patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods:Clinical data of 237 aged BPH patients were retro-spectively analyzed.According to international prostate symptom score (IPSS),they were divided into mild group (n=25),moderate group (n=67)and severe group (n= 145);another 110 patients without prostatic hyperplasia were enrolled as normal control group in the same period.Levels of serum Cys C,blood urea nitrogen (BUN),ser-um creatinine (Scr),fasting blood glucose (FBG),blood lipids and prostate-specific antigen (PSA)were measured in all groups,and prostate volume (PV)was calculated.Results:Compared with normal control group,PV signifi-cantly rose [(18.94±4.62)ml vs.(40.09±12.72)ml],maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax)significantly reduced [(18.67±4.60)ml/s vs.(9.93±3.54)ml/s],and serum Cys C level significantly increased [(1.03±0.23)mg/L vs.(1.53±0.61)mg/L]in BPH group,P <0.01 all.Subgroup analysis indicated that serum Cys C levels in mild, moderate and severe group [(1.32±0.45)mg/L,(1.42±0.32)mg/L,(1.61 ±0.64)mg/L]were significantly higher than that of normal control group,P <0.01 all;and that of severe group was significantly higher than those of mild group and moderate group (P <0.01 or P <0.05).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that serum Cys C level was positively correlated with of age,SBP,DBP,FBG,BUN,Scr,PV and IPSS (r=0.179~0.580,P <0.05 or P <0.01),and inversely correlated with Qmax (r=-0.243,P <0.05)in BPH patients.Conclusion:Serum Cys C level significantly rise,and related with BPH degree,correlated with renal function in aged BPH patients,which can be used to predict renal function of these patients.