OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone II(A) on the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system of left ventricles of renal hypertensive rats.

METHODThe renal hypertension model was established in rats by the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) method. In the experiment, all of the rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15 per group) before the operation: the sham-operated (Sham) group, the hypertensive model (Model) group, the low-dose tanshinone II(A) group and the high-dose tanshinone II(A) group. At 5 week after the renal artery narrowing, the third and fourth groups were administered with 35 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 70 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of tanshinone II(A), respectively. The blood pressure in rats was determined by the standard tail-cuff method in each week after the operation. After the drug treatment for 8 weeks, all the rats were put to death, and their left ventricles were separated to determine the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW), the myocardial collagen content, and the expressions of different components in myocardial RAS, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin 1-type receptor (AT1R), Mas receptor mRNA expression and angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] content.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the hypertensive model group exhibited a markable increase in the content of Ang II and Ang (1-7) and the mRNA expressions of ACE, ACE2, AT1R and Mas (P < 0.01). However, the treatment with tanshinone II(A) showed the does dependence, inhibited left ventricle hypertrophy, decreased myocardial Ang II content and the mRNA expression of ACE and AT, R in renal hypertensive rats (P < 0. 01) , further increased the myocardial Ang (1-7) content and the mRNA expression of ACE2 and Mas (P < 0.01) , but without any change in the blood pressure of hypertensive rats.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with tanshinone II(A) could inhibit left ventricle hypertrophy of renal hypertensive rats. Its mechanism may be partially related to the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system for regulating myocardial tissues.

Angiotensin I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; administration & dosage ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and outcome of critically illness with acute kidney injury (AKI) treated with continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in children.Methods Twenty-four cases of critically illness with AKI were treated with CVVHDF in our pediatric intensive care unit from Jan 2008 to Dec 2010.The levels of creatinine (Cr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),K +,Na + and HCO3- were observed before CVVHDF and 6,12,24,48,72 h after CVVHDF.ResultsCatheter was successfully established for CVVHDF in 24 cases of AKI.The average duration of CVVHDF was 46 h ( 16 ～142 h).The blood levels of Cr and BUN were significantly decreased at 6 h after CVVHDF [ ( 196.3 ±112.4) μmol/L,( 13.3 ± 8.5 ) mmol/L] and 12 h after CVVHDF [ ( 106.1 ± 84.2) μ mol/L,( 10.2 ± 9.7 )mmol/L] as compared to those before treatment [ (340.6 ±298.2) μmol/L,(31.6 ± 11.3) mmol/L] (P ＜0.05,P ＜ 0.01 ).After 48 h of CVVHDF,the Cr,BUN returned to normal range.The imbalance of blood K +,Na +,and HCO3- improved at 6 h after CVVHDF and returned to nomal levels at 24 h.Total 28 d fatality rate was 29.2％ (7/24),and all death cases were complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.ConclusionCVVHDF therapy for AKI can quickly clear Cr,BUN and excess water,correct electrolyte disorders,improve kidney function in children.

Natural products especially flavonoids are being explored for their therapeutic potentials in reducing bone loss and maintaining bone health. The present study is to investigate the effects of isoquercitrin from Craibiodendron yunnanense with different concentrations at 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) on proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 kit at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of culture. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were performed qualitatively and quantitatively on day 7, and alizarin red S staining was employed to access the mineralization of cells on day 21. The osteogenic markers ALP, collagen type I (COL 1A1), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and Osterix were detected to analysis early osteogenic differentiation of cells on day 3 by RT-PCR. The results showed that isoquercitrin had a dose-dependent effect on the proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization and gene expression of MC3T3-E1 in the range from 1 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1). At concentrations above 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) isoquercitrin showed cytotoxicity, while 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) is the optimal concentration of isoquercitrin to improve the osteoblastic activity. All these results implied that isoquercitrin might be the major composition of traditional Chinese medicine C. yunnanense to treat bone fractures.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ericaceae ; chemistry ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Solvents ; analysis ; chemistry ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry

Objective To explore the effect and application value of percutaneous transhepatic various interventional technique for treatment of common bile duct stones.Methods 46 patients with common bile duct stones were treated.All patients were treated by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiopancreatography in order to confirm the number and location and size of the stones.Place me-chanical lithotripsy net according to the size of stones.Then percutaneous transhepatic balloon dilation.Postoperatively biliary tract was drained for 2 weeks.Results 45 operations were successful,The successful rate was 97.83%.Complete stone removal was obtained with one session in 41 patients and two sessions in 4 cases,respectively.There was no serious complications occurred during the operation. There was no perforation and bleeding,but hyperamylasemia occurred in 3 patients and acute pancreatitis occurred in 1 patient and bile perito-nitis occurred in 2 patients.Conclusion Percutaneous transhepatic various interventional technique can keep the function of papillary sphincter and is a valuable methed for patients suffering from common bile duct stones with a high successful rate and safety.

Background Age-related cataract is one of the common causes of blindness.Although the pathophysiology of age-related cataract is far from clearly understood,it is well accepted that DNA damage plays an important role in the disease pathogenesis.Objective The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes of age-related cataract.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out.This study complied Declaration of Helsinki and approved by Ethic Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Two hundred and eleven patients with agerelated cataract and 147 normal subjects were enrolled from a “ Jiangsu Eye Study:Funing 2011 Eye Disease Epidemic Survey”.All the subjects aged from 50 through 80 years with matched age and gender between the two groups.The percentage of tail DNA and Olive tail moment (OTM) were detected by comet assay to assess the extent of DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes.Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 17.0 software,and the differences of the percentage of tail DNA and OTM were compared between the age-related cataract group and normal control group by independent sample t test as well as among the 50-59 years group,60-69 years group and ≥70 years group by one-way analysis of variance.Results Comet assay showed a round lymph cell with the clear border in the normal group;while in the age-related cataract group,the cell was bigger with a comet-like tail.The percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (21.75 ± 3.51) ％ and 6.54 ± 1.65 in the age-related cataract group,and those in the normal control group were (9.31 ±3.60)％ and 2.18 ± 1.10,respectively,with significant differences between them (t =32.67,P =0.00 ; t =28.02,P =O.00).In the 50-59 years subgroup of the age-related cataract group,the percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (20.04±2.86) ％ and 5.92± 1.14,and in the 60-69 years subgroup of the age-related cataract group,the percentage of tail DNA and OTM in peripheral lymphocytes were (20.77 ±2.93) ％ and 6.13 ± 1.14,which were significantly reduced in comparison with (22.79 ± 3.67)％ and 6.95±1.91 of the ≥70years subgroup(TailDNA％:q=2.75,P=0.00; q=2.02,P=0.00;OTM:q=1.03,P =0.02 ; q =0.82,P =0.00).Conclusions The pathogenesis and development of age-related cataract probably is associated with DNA damage.

Objective To evaluate the validity of original plasma cortisol level and responses to lowdose ACTH stimulation test in assessing the severity of critical illness.Method Original level of cortisol and cortisol concentrations 30 min after administration of a low dose ( 1 μg/1.73m2 ) of cosyntropin were determined within 24 hours after admission to our PICU.Critical illness related cortisol insufficiency was defined by initial level of cortisol ＜ 10 μg/dL or an increment cortisol [ Δmax =Stimulated plasma cortisol level (T1) -initial cortisol level (T0)]≤ 9 μg/dL.Results Ninety-five consecutive patients were admitted to PICU from May 2010 to April 2011.The patients were assigned to severe sepsis group (35/95),major operation group (30/95),and other critical illness group (30/95).Overall mortality was 12.6％ (12/95).The initial and stimulated plasma cortisol levels in three groups were (37.17 ± 47.35 ) μg/dL,(31.52±52.78) μg/dL,(28.61 ±17.45) μg/dL,vs.(50.26±48.21) μg/dL,(58.56±73.21)μg/dL, (42.41 ± 13.56) μg/dL,respectively.There were no significantly differences between above groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in this study was 55.8％.The incidences of CIRCI were 60％,53.3％,and 53.3％ in severe sepsis,other critical illness and major surgery illness,respectively ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The morbidity of CIRCI and normal response group were 7.5％ and 19％ (P ＞0.05).The levels of T0 and T1 were related to the PCIS (P ＜0.05). Conclusions CIRCI is often seen in children with critical illness. And a low-dose ACTH stimulation test can be used to evaluate the adrenal function in critical illness.However,there is no significant correlation between CIRCI and mortality of critically ill children in this study.

Objective To investigate the clinicalmanifestation,monitoring and therapeutic measure of severe enterovirus 71 ( EV71 ) infection in children.MethodsForty-five cases of severe EV71 infectionwere admitted in our PICU from May 2010 to Sep 2011.The vital sign and arterial blood pressure,central venous pressure,mixed venous oxygen saturation,dynamic non-invasive heart function and urine volume were monitored.Forty-five cases were divided into 3 stages according to clinical manifestation:( 1 ) nervous system involvement stage; (2) respiratory system involvement stage; ( 3 ) circulatory system involvement stage ( compensation and decompensation).We adopted individualized remedy measure according to different stages.ResultsIn 45 cases,38 cases discharged from hospital,the cure rate was 84.4％.Among all the 38 cases,nervous system involvement was found in 19 cases,respiratory system involvement was found in 12 cases,circulatory system involvement was found in 7 cases.Seven cases died,who had circulation failure.ConclusionWe should identify severe EV71 infection early.Positive control of high fever,appropriate liquid treatment,control of high blood pressure,early respiratory support,preventment of circulation failure are the key measures for treatment.Individualized monitoring and treatment are effective in children with severe EV71 infection.

Objective To study critical hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) presented with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU),including clinical features and outcomes In order to explore the effect of bedside continuous hemodialysis/hemofiltration (CBP) as adjuvant treatment for severe HPS/MAS.Methods A total of 19 children with HPS/MAS were hospitalized met the diagnostic criteria for HPS from January,2009 to December,2012.Twelve cases were treated with CBP by continuous venin-venin hemodialysis/hemofiltration (CVVHDF) or high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) following conventional anti-inflammatory therapy.The replacement liquid dose was 50-75 ml/ (kg · h).The organs function were evaluated and laboratory biomarkers including blood 、electrolytes,ferritin changes were measured before and after CBP treatment.Results Ninteen cases of HPS were acute onset and developed to MODS rapidiy after admission to PICU.The main clinical features were the irregular fever or high fever,hepatosplenomegaly and significant liver damage,nervous system dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).Eight cases were death and mortality rate was 42.1％,and all death occurred in those aged less than 3 years old.The mortality rate were 25％ (3/12) and 71.4％ (5/7) in CBP group and non-CBP group respectively.After CBP for 6-24 hours,the fever returned to normal range and blood electrolytes improved.The serum ferritin,serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reduced significantly.Serum creatinine (sCr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level improved.Four cases with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) improved and the ventilator parameters were downregulated.Conclusions Our findings indicate that HPS/MAS complicated with MODS is life threatening with high mortality rate.CBP therapy can lower the fever within a short time,correct electrolyte imbalance,stable circulatory function,improve the lung,liver,and brain function.It is suggested that CBP may be the potential effective therapy in severe HPS/MAS with MODS in children.