This study is to screen the Chinese herbal compounds which could inhibit the production of Abeta and investigate the underlying mechanism. Ten types of compounds which have potential value in the treatment of AD were selected as initial screening trial. The cell models which used could overexpress Abeta and beta-secretases or Abeta and gamma-secretases. Extracellular Abeta was determined by ELISA after the cell models treated with different concentrations of compounds (0.5-100 micromol x L(-1)), separately. Then the compounds were selected which could inhibit extracellular Abeta and their best concentration ranges were decided, too. Furthermore, the cell viability and apoptosis rate, the level of intracellular Abeta, beta and gamma-secretases were determined after the cell models treated with different concentrations of selected compounds. The results showed that 4 of the 10 compounds could reduce the level of extracellular Abeta; they were cryptotanshinone, astragalosides, gastrodin and paeoniflorin, and their best concentration ranges were 0.5-5.0, 0.5-5.0, 5.0-50, 1.0-25 micromol x L(-1), respectively. Further study indicated that the 4 selected compounds were nontoxic to the cellular models and lowering intracellular Abeta were more effective compared with extracellular; of which astragalosides and gastrodin showed dose-dependent inhibition to the activities of beta and gamma-secretases, with the maximum inhibiting rates of 78.2% and 80.3%, respectively. In conclusion, cryptotanshinone, astragalosides, gastrodin and paeoniflorin could inhibit the expression and secretion of Abeta, and the underlying inhibiting mechanism of astragalosides and gastrodin were related with the reduction of the beta and gamma-secretase activities, respectively.
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Apoptosis ; Benzyl Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

AIMTo establish a method for screening active substance with scavenging effects on superoxide anion in vitro by designed superoxide dismutase biosensor.

METHODSThe enzyme sensor was built by connecting the immobilized CuZnSOD with optical oxygen sensor through a special way. Superoxide anions were generated by auto-oxidation of pyrogallol. The auto-oxidation speed was examined before and after adding samples into the system, and the Vit C having the scavenging radical activities was served as a positive control.

RESULTSThe limit of biosensor detection was 7.0 U in activity, and lifetime of the immobilized enzyme in the reaction-cell was above 2 weeks. The scavenging effects on superoxide radicals of fifteen active substance were studied in vitro by the sensor, and some of them presented scavenging activities.

CONCLUSIONThe signal from biosensor is stable, easy to be determined, and the kinetic information on scavenging superoxide radicals could be obtained directly. The biosensor system can be used for screening drugs simply and rapidly.

Ascorbic Acid ; metabolism ; Benzaldehydes ; metabolism ; Biosensing Techniques ; Caffeic Acids ; metabolism ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; metabolism ; Pyrogallol ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the influence of self-efficacy and postoperative pain on postoperative kinesiophobia in aged patients with femoral neck fractures and explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy on postoperative pain and kinesiophobia of the patients.Methods A total of 120 aged patients with femoral neck fractures were included in the study.A cross-sectional study was conducted using general questionaire,the rehabilitation self-efficacy scale,digital pain rating scale and Tampa scale for kinesiophobia.Pearson correlation was used to analyse the correlations between postoperative pain,self-efficacy and postoperative kinesiophobia.AMOS21.0 software was used to establish the mediating effect model of self-efficacy between postoperative pain and postoperative kinesiophobia.The mediating effect was verified by Bootstarp confidence interval evaluation.Results All 120 aged patients with femoral neck fractures completed the study.The score of postoperative kinesiophobia was(40.27±12.85).The level of kinesiophobia was negatively correlated with the self-efficacy score(r=-0.571,P<0.01),and positively with the level of postoperative pain(r=0.766,P<0.01).The direct standardized effect of postoperative pain on postoperative panic level was 0.367,the direct standardized effect of self-efficacy on postoperative panic level was-0.485,the direct standardized effect of postoperative pain on self-efficacy was-0.716,the indirect standardized effect of postoperative pain on postoperative panic level was 0.347,and the total standardized effect was 0.714,accounting for 48.60%of the total effect.Conclusions Postoperative pain can directly affect postoperative kinesiophobia or indirectly affect it via self-efficacy in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.Medical staff should improve the self-efficacy of the aged patients by relieving the postoperative pain and alleviating the postoperative kinesiophobia.

BACKGROUND: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) was defined as the ability to increase coronary blood flow maximally in response to demand. The presence of viable myocardium in an infarcted zone indicates the presence of an intact microvasculature. We hypothesized that coronary flow reserve, which assesses the microcirculation, might be associated with the presence of viable myocardium. METHODS: Thirty seven patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (mean age 55+/-10, 25 males) were enrolled and abnormal 127 segments were analyzed. Dobutamine stress echocard-iography (5 to 20 g/kg/min) was performed before coronary angiography (6+/-3 days after acute myocardial infarction (AMI)). Coronary flow reserve in infarct-related artery was measured at distal site to lesion immediately after successful angioplasty (7+/-2 days after AMI, with residual stenosis less than 20%) by using intracoronary Doppler flow wire. And follow-up 2-dimentional transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 26 patients during 333+/-161 (range of 109-780) days after acute myocardial infarction. Improvement of wall motion at least one segment by one more grade in dobutamine stress echocardiography was defined as contractile reserve. Viable myocardium was defined as the improvement of wall motion in transthoracic echocardiography during follow-up periods. RESULTS: In 26 patients, viable myocardium was detected in 19 patients (73%) and their mean CFR was 1.74+/-0.42, which was significantly increased than 1.16+/-0.14 of CFR of patients without viable myocardium (p<0.001). The agreement of CFR score and presence of viable myocardium in AMI was excellent when CFR was above 1.3 (Area under the curve was 0.906 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve). Sensitivity and specificity to detect viable myocardium in CFR more than 1.3 were 84% & 85% respectively. CONCLUSION: CFR was increased in patients with viable myocardium, and the cut-off value of CFR more than 1.3 was agreed excellently to detect viable myocardium.
Angioplasty ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Dobutamine ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Stress ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Microvessels ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo ascertain an accurate approach to inserting the pedicle screw into C3-C7 segments of the cervical vertebra.

METHODSAnatomic morphology of lateral mass and pedicle, and their anatomic relationship with the adjacent tissue were observed on C3-C7 segments of 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides).

RESULTS1) The inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the inferior edge of the pedicle were connected with each other on 25 adult embalmed cadavers (50 sides). The transverse section which passed through the median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, and the transverse section which passed through the central axis between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the pedicle, were in the same horizontal plane. The superior and inferior position of placing the pedicle screw was determined by this transverse section, which passed through the median point between the superior and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process. 2) There was a directed internal-downwards "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process. The anterior wall of the triangular sulcule was the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the posterior wall was the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process, and the bottom of the sulcule was connected with the interior edge of the pedicle. The vertical length between the top of triangle and the planes of inferior edge of the pedicle was (2.78+/-1.71) mm. The inferior edge of the cervical pedicle could be detected using a blunt probe along the "triangular sulcule" between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of the inferior articular process in surgical operation. 3) The lateral fovea of the articular process was observed on all lateral masses (50 sides). The internal and external position of the entrance point could depend on anatomic landmarks: the lateral edge of the lateral fovea of the articular process. The horizontal length between the lateral fovea of the articular process and the entrance point was (3.14+/-1.45) mm. 4) The diameter of pedicle screw, about (2.78+/-1.71) mm, was the transverse diameter of the cancellous bone of the greatest narrow part of the cervical pedicle.

CONCLUSIONSThe median point between the superior edge and the inferior edge of the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process, the lateral fovea of the articular process, and the triangular sulcule between the base of the posterior tubercle of the transverse process and the anterolateral edge of inferior articular process, are easy to be exposed and identified in surgical operation. The pedicle screw can be precisely inserted through this method.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans

The effects of illumination on growth of Anabaena sp. IB02 and hTNF-alpha expression were studied. Photosynthetic activity, PS I and PS II activity of Anabaena sp. IB02 were assayed. Illumination enhanced the growth of Anabaena sp. IB02 and hTNF-a expression. Some relations were observed between hTNF-alpha expression and ture photosynthesis activity, PS I, PS II activity of Anabaena sp. IB02. Significant differences of the photosynthetic activity of host were detected simultaneously when hTNF-a expressed: the respiration rate increased (-68%), the light saturation point descended (+66%), all these suggested that the metabolic charge of host were increased and grow faster than wild type under low illumination.
Anabaena ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Humans ; Light ; Photosynthesis ; Photosystem I Protein Complex ; analysis ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVE(1) To investigate the expression and gene diversity of the 7 major cancer/testis (CT) antigens, MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MAGE-4, MAGE-10, NY-ESO-1, SSX-2 and SCP-1, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). (2) To analyze the correlations between the clinical characters and CT antigens' expression.

METHODSThe cancer and para-cancer tissues were collected from 30 HCC patients. The mRNAs of seven CT antigens were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with the specific primers. The PCR products were sequenced to analyze the CT genes.

RESULTSThe MAGE-1, MAGE-3, MAGE-4, MAGE-10, NY-ESO-1, SSX-2 and SCP-1 were expressed in 66.7%, 70.0%, 20.0%, 36.7%, 40.0%, 33.3% and 33.3% of the tumor tissues from HCC patients respectively, however, they were not expressed in the para-cancer tissues. Among the 30 patients investigated, 90.0% expressed one CT gene at least, 70.0% expressed two CT genes, and 53.3% expressed three CT genes of the seven CT genes. The coding genes of these CT antigens were highly conserved between in Chinese patients and patients abroad. There were discernible correlations between alpha-fetoprotein level and MAGE-10 or SCP-1 expression level, as well as between average age and MAGE-3 or SSX-2 expression levels (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith a highly conserved coding gene, seven CT antigens were expressed in 20.0% - 70.0% of Chinese HCC patients. CT antigens' expression had correlations with some clinical characters.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective:To describe the design, manufacture and use of three-dimensional (3D)-printed endoprosthesis for reconstruction after metaphysis-involved intercalary tumor resection and to evaluate its outcome.Methods:Forty-three patients who received metaphysis-involved intercalary tumor resection followed by 3D-printed endoprosthetic reconstruction in Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Peking University People's Hospital between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 25 males and 18 males with an average age of 20.1±15.2 years (range, 4-58 years). The pathological diagnosis included 24 cases of osteosarcomas, 6 cases of Ewing sarcomas, 5 cases of chondrosarcomas, 2 cases of pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcomas, 3 cases of soft-tissue sarcomas (liposarcoma, synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor for each) and 3 others (adamantinoma, recurrent aneurysmal bone cyst and recurrent osteofibrous dysplasia for each). The tumors located at femur in 25 patients (58%), including 14 lesions involving distal femoral metaphysis and 11 lesions involving both proximal and distal metaphysis; the tumors located at tibia in 11 patients (26%), including 4 lesions involving distal tibial metaphysis, 5 lesions involving proximal tibial metaphysis and 2 lesions involving both proximal and distal tibial metaphysis; the tumors located at humerus in 7 patients (16%), including 1 lesion involving distal humeral metaphysis, 3 lesions involving proximal humeral metaphysis and 3 lesions involving both proximal and distal humeral metaphysis. The endoprosthesis was designed in a semi-modular fashion and consisted of three parts: a diaphysis-fixing component, a semi-modular lap joint component, and a custom-made 3D-printed metaphysis-fixing component which was designed as two types with 3D-printed porous bone-contacting surfaces according to the osteotomy plane (Type I on meta-diaphyseal region, Type II on meta-epiphyseal region). The functional outcome was assessed using Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) 93 system.Results:All surgeries were accomplished sucessfully. The median resection length and the distance from osteotomy plane to adjacent joint was 16.0 (13.0, 22.0) cm and 4.5 (3.5, 6.0) cm, respectively. 59 metaphysis-fixing components were installed in 43 patients. Type I components were used in single and dual ends of endoprosthesis in 12 and 6 cases respectively. Type II components were used in single and dual ends in 15 and 5 cases respectively. Hybrid endoprosthesis with Type I and II components were used in 5 cases. The mean follow-up time was 26.0 (17, 37) months (range, 12-54 months). The mean MSTS 93 score was 29.0 (28.0, 30.0) points (range, 21-30 points). Implant failures were found in 5 patients, including 2 cases of aseptic loosening (loosening was observed in the cementing diaphysis-fixing stems while no evidence of loosening in metaphysis-fixing components) and 3 cases of local tumor progression. The 2-year implant survival rate was 90.3% (95% CI: 0.81, 0.99). Conclusion:Using 3D-printed intercalary endoprosthesis for reconstruction after intercalary resection of metaphysis-involved bone tumor shows satisfactory functional outcome and implant survival. Moreover, by assembling endoprosthetic components according to the different osteotomy plane, the semi-modularized endoprosthesis also provids a comprehensive and individualized reconstruction for patients with metaphysis-involved intercalary tumor.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination chemotherapy of capecitabine (X) with fractionated administration of cisplatin (C) in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS141 patients with AGC were enrolled between July 2002 and August 2004. All patients had measurable tumor according to the criteria of RECIST, Karnofsky performance status > or = 60, adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic functions. Prior radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was not permitted. Patients received oral administration of capecitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) twice a day on D1-D14, and intravenous infusion of fractionated cisplatin at a dose of 20 mg/m(2)/day on D1-D5. The regimen was repeated every 3 weeks, totally for 6 cycles.

RESULTSOf the 141 evaluable patients, there were 104 men and 37 women, with a median age of 54 years (range, 23 - 80 years). Metastases before chemotherapy were detected in lymph nodes (46.8%), liver (40.4%), lung (5.7%) and other area (10.6%). The median treatment duration was 6 cycles (range, 3 - 6 cycles). The objective response rate (RR) was 36.2% (51/141). The median follow-up period was 17.5 months. The median time to progress (TTP) was 9.0 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.0 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events (grade 3/4) were: hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (2.1%), leucopenia (0.7%), abnormal alanine transaminase elevation (2.8%). There was no treatment-related death.

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine combined with fractionated cisplatin is highly effective and well tolerated as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer, with comparable results to 5-Fu plus cisplatin combination therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Hand Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

Objective To develop chitosan composite keratinocyte growth factor-2 mutant(KGF-2M)temperature-sen-sitive dressing and evaluate its physicochemical properties and dynamic release rule were used.Methods Chitosan, chi-tosan quaternary ammonium salt,β-glycerophosphate and other adjuvant materials to configure different formulations which were compounded with KGF-2M in order to develop temperature-sensitive dressing.Gelling time, temperature,the release rate of KGF-2M and other indicators were measured to analyze the physical and chemical properties of the temperature -sen-sitive dressing.Results Chitosan-KGF-2M composite dressing with temperature-sensitive properties was obtained by opti-mizing the formulation components of chitosan and related adjuvant materials.When the liquid dressing was above 35℃,it could be converted from liquid to solid gelatin within 10 minutes.The compound KGF-2M released from the gel was more than 98%at 4 h,and its bioactivity remained stable.Conclusion The thermo-sensitive gel has the characteristics of good conformability,moisturizing(moisture),isolation,wound healing,and a controlled release effect,which has great potential in wartime for wound repair.