Chemical constituents of Leonurus japonicus were isolated and purified by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI, and Rp C18. Structures of the isolates were determined by spectroscopic analysis as 10 coumarins: bergapten (1), xanthotoxin (2), isopimpinellin (3), isogosferal (4), imperatorin (5), meransin hydrate(6), isomeranzin(7), murrayone(8) , auraptenol(9), and osthol(10). In addition to compound 9, the others were isolated from the genus Leonurus for the first time. In the in vitro assay, compounds 4 and 8 significantly inhibited the abnormal increase of platelet aggregation induced by ADP.
Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Leonurus ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between HBV genotypes and the efficacy of antiviral therapies.

METHODSHBV genotypes of 90 hepatitis B e antigen positive patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were determined by PCR sandwich hybridization-ELISA technique. Forty-one patients with CHB were treated with lamivudine (100 mg/day) for 48 weeks and 49 patients with CHB were given alpha-interferon (3 MU/QOD) therapy for 48 weeks. The serological, biochemical and virological symbols were measured before, during and after treatment for all the patients.

RESULTSOf the 90 patients, genotype B HBV was found in 16 and C in 74. There was no difference in the rate of response to lamivudine treatment between patients with genotype B or C HBV (33.3% vs. 20.0%) after 48 weeks treatment with lamivudine in the 41 patients. Of the 49 HBeAg positive CHB patients treated with alpha-interferon for 48 weeks, in HBV genotype B and C patients the rates of normalization of ALT were 60.0% and 20.5%; the rate of HBeAg turning to negativity was 50.0% and 17.9%; and the rate of HBV DNA undetectability was 50.0% and 17.9%. The rate of response to the interferon treatment was significantly higher in patients with HBV genotype B compared to those with genotype C.

CONCLUSIONSOur study shows that there is no influence on the lamivudine treatment effects for the HBV genotype B and C CHB patients, but the alpha-interferon treatment for HBV genotype B CHB patients is more effective than that for the genotype C ones.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Young Adult

AIMTo develop simple but reliable intracellular labelling method for high-resolution visualization of the fine structure of single neurons in brain slice with thickness of 500 microm.

METHODSBiocytin was introduced into neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slices while blind whole cell recording. Following processed for histochemistry using the avidin-biotin-complex method, stained slices were mounted in glycerol on special glass slides. Labelled cells were digital photomicrographed every 30 microm and reconstructed with Adobe Photoshop software.

RESULTSAfter histochemistry, limited background staining was produced. The resolution was so high that fine structure, including branching, termination of individual axons and even spines of neurons could be identified in exquisite detail with optic microscope. With the help of software, the neurons of interest could be reconstructed from a stack of photomicrographs.

CONCLUSIONThe modified method provides an easy and reliable approach to revealing the detailed morphological properties of single neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slice. Without requisition of special equipment, it is suited to be broadly applied.

Animals ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Software ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) guided by X-ray fluoroscopy in treating osteoporotic spinal compression fractures, hemangioma of vertebra and metastatic carcinoma of vertebra.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety patients with 275 diseased vertebra underwent PVP under the guidance of C-arm fluoroscopy (male 80, female 110, ranging in age from 53 to 91 years, with an average of 66 years). Bone marrow biopsy needle was inserted percutaneously via transpedicular way into the diseased vertebra. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was then injected into the diseased vertebra. Visual analogue scale (VAS), mobility and analgesic usage were evaluated pre-operation and 3 months after PVP.

RESULTSPVP was successful in 190 cases (275 vertebrae). VAS was tested by t test at 3 months after PVP (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, scale of patient's mobility and scale of analgesic usage was tested by rank sum test at 3 months after PVP (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs the mimimally invasive operation, PVP can alleviate pain in early time, avoid kinds of complications by shortening the patient's time in bed and have the characteristic of simply operative procedure and low expenses. It is an effective mini-invasive technique for osteoporotic spinal compression fractures, hemangioma of vertebra and metastatic carcinoma of vertebra.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Vertebroplasty ; adverse effects ; methods

BACKGROUNDTravoprost has been widely used for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy of travoprost 0.004% monotherapy in patients previously treated with other topical hypotensive medications, and in previously untreated patients.

METHODSThis open-label, 12-week study in 1651 adult patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma who were untreated or required a change in therapy (due to either inadequate efficacy or safety issues) as judged by the investigator was conducted at 6 sites in China. Previously treated patients were instructed to discontinue their prior medications at the first visit. All the patients were dosed with travoprost 0.004% once-daily at 8 p.m. in both eyes for 12 weeks. Efficacy and safety evaluations were conducted at week 4 and 12. IOP measurements were performed at the same time of day at the follow-up visits.

RESULTSFor patients transitioned to travoprost, mean IOP reductions from baseline in untreated and treated patients with different prior medications at week 12 were: latanoprost, (4.3 +/- 4.6) mmHg; beta-blocker, (6.3 +/- 4.0) mmHg; alpha-agonist, (7.5 +/- 4.3) mmHg; topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, (8.0 +/- 4.9) mmHg. All mean IOP changes from baseline were statistically significant (P < 0.001). No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported in this study.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients treated with other hypotensive medications or untreated, the IOP reduction with travoprost was significant. The results of this study demonstrated the potential benefit of using travoprost as a replacement therapy in order to ensure adequate IOP control. Travoprost administered once daily was safe and well tolerated in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cloprostenol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ocular Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Travoprost ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the relation between expression of JARID1B/KDM5B in invasive breast cancer tissue and circulating tumor cells of invasive breast patients. Methods The S-P immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of JARID1B/KDM5B in lesions.imFISH method was used to detect circulation tumor cells. Results Twenty-seven cases of patients showed CTC positive(the number of CTC was more than or equal to 2) in 35 invasive breast cancer cases,The results of JARID1B/KDM5B expression were as follows:(-) (n=0) and (+) in 1 case,(++) in 3 cases,(+++) in 23 cases,8 cases of negative cases (the number of CTC < 2), JARID1B/KDM5B immune group of results:(-) (n=2),(+) in 2 cases,(++) in 1 case,(+++) in 3 cases, The positive relation was found in expression of JARID1B/KDM5B and circulating tumor cells(P<0.05). Conclu-sions JARID1B/KDM5B positive expression in tumor tissues has a certain significance in predicting the recurrence and metastasis of tumor.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the stem cell re-distribution after intra-coronary infusion (ICI) into arrested and beating hearts in a swine myocardial infarction (MI) model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSBone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were obtained from male swine and labeled with iron oxide during culture. One week after MI in female swine, the survivors were randomly divided into 4 groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass was set up to arrest the heart, and then SPIO labeled male stem cells (1 × 10(8)) were infused through coronary of beating heart (n = 6) and the arrested heart (n = 6). Saline was injected in either the beating or arresting heart as respective controls. Three days later, cell distribution was assessed by T2(*) change with magnetic resonance imaging and Y-chromosome (SRY) was detected with quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe reduction of T2(*) values was significantly different in the hearts, spleens, livers and lung between the transplantation groups and the control groups. Only few transplanted cells were localized in the heart and T2(*) values were similar between beating and arrest heart groups [(-7.81 ± 2.03) ms vs. (-6.56 ± 1.72) ms, P > 0.05], while T2(*) value reduction was more significant in the spleen and liver in arrest heart group than in beating heart group [spleen: (-16.72 ± 2.83) ms vs. (-22.18 ± 3.98) ms, P < 0.01, liver: (-2.40 ± 0.44) ms vs. (-5.32 ± 3.40) ms, P < 0.05]. T2(*) value was similar in kidney among the four groups. qRT-PCR detected SRY gene was similar in the heart, less in the spleen and liver while more in the lung in beating heart group compared to arrested heart group. In vitro Prussian blue stained positively transplanted cells were found in the above organs in transplantation group.

CONCLUSIONSThe majority of stem cells transplanted by ICI would be entrapped by the extracardiac organs. Stem cell transplantation via ICI into the arrested heart does not favor more cells retention in the injured myocardium. Further investigation is needed to optimize the approach of stem cell delivery.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; surgery ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Stem Cells ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo characterize the clinical and cardiac MRI features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODSCompared the clinical and MRI features between 25 patients with LVNC and 21 patients with DCM. The MRI derived diastolic left ventricular wall thickness and the number and degree of noncompaction (NC) were evaluated using the 17-segment model.

RESULTSChest distress, shortness of breath and abnormal ECG were presented in all DCM patients, abnormal ECG was evidenced in 22 LVNC patients and 21 out of 25 LVNC patients presented similar clinical symptoms as DCM patients while the rest 4 LVNC patients were asymptomatic. Left atrial and ventricular dimensions were significantly smaller in LVNC patients compared to DCM patients. The degree of left ventricular (LV) spherical remodeling was significantly greater in patients with DCM (sphericity index, SI = 0.81 +/- 0.06) than in patients with LVNC (SI = 0.74 +/- 0.11, P < 0.05). The LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly higher in patients with LVNC (32.7% +/- 14.2%) than that in patients with DCM (15.0% +/- 5.1%). The number of NC segments in LVNC patients (9 +/- 1) was significantly higher than the number of hypertrabeculation segment in DCM patients (5 +/- 2). The left ventricular apex (the 17th segment) was unexceptionally involved in all LVNC patients, while hypertrabeculation was absent in the 17th segment of DCM patients. The NC was more common in the apical and mid segments (16th, 12th and 11th segments) than in basal and mid septal segments (2nd, 3rd, 8th and 9th segments) in both LVNC and DCM patients. The thickness of compacted myocardium of the segments associated with noncompaction appeared thin in two groups. The wall thickness of noncompaction myocardium segments was thicker in LVNC patients than in DCM patients. The end-diastolic NC/C ratio was, on average, higher in patients with LVNC (3.3 +/- 0.6) than in patients with DCM (1.9 +/- 0.3).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestation is similar while there are significant differences in the morphology and function of left atria and left ventricle between the LVNC and DCM patients. The different distribution and degree of NC were helpful to differentiate LVNC from DCM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathies ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and outcome of patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODSFifty-one patients with LVNC evaluated by echocardiography and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) from January 2006 to August 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Coronary angiography or MDCT was performed for detecting coronary artery disease. Predictors of the cardiac events were analyzed by Cox regression analysis.

RESULTSThere were 31 LVNC patients without CAD and 20 LVNC patients with CAD including single vessel coronary disease in 9 cases, double vessel coronary disease in 3 cases, three vessel coronary disease in 5 cases and left main coronary disease in 3 cases. Coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were performed in 4 patients. Compared to LVNC patients without CAD, mean age (P = 0.008), incidence of hypertension (65.0% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.001), diabetes mellitus (40.0% vs. 12.9%, P = 0.026) and hyperlipidemia (55.0% vs. 25.8%, P = 0.035) were significantly higher while NT-proBNP level was significantly lower (P = 0.049) in LVNC patients with CAD. Incidence of major cardiac events was similar in LVNC patients with or without CAD. LogNT-proBNP is the independent prognostic factor for adverse cardiac events in patients with LVNC (HR 3.993, 95%CI 1.140 - 13.988, P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONSCoronary artery disease is common in patients with LVNC and associated with traditional risk factors for CAD. Poor prognosis is associated with increased NT-proBNP but not with CAD in this patient cohort.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic trend of specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV in serum collected at various periods among employees in Guangzhou Xinyuan animal market.

METHODSVolunteers from employees of the animal market were recruited and their serum specific antibody against SARS-CoV were determined by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTSPositive SARS-CoV specific IgG antibody was found 25.61% (n = 328), 13.03% (n = 238), 12.59% (n = 135), 5.04% (n = 139) and 9.43% (n = 53) among volunteers, which were sampled in May 2003, Dec. 2003, Jan. 2004, July 2004 and June 2005 respectively. No specific IgM antibody was found in all of those samples. Among 129 samples which were tested twice or more, 97 were all negative, 18 all positive, 13 changed from positive to negative but only one sample from negative to positive. When the volunteers were divided by the duration of their working experiences as short-term or long-term, those who had worked at animal market for less than or more then 6 months when being tested, the positive rate for long-term employees were relatively constant, however, all of the persons employed after January 2004, when the palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from the market, were tested negative.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of specific antibody against SARS-CoV in employees of the animal market were somehow related with the presence or absence of palm civet. No serum was tested positive for persons who were employed after palm civets and raccoon dogs were culled from market. This data indicated that the SARS-CoV might have been from the palm civets and raccoon dog, and the animal market seemed to serve as one of the sources of infection.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; analysis ; Commerce ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Raccoon Dogs ; virology ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; Viverridae ; virology