BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized by catalysis of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Three distinct isoforms of NOS have been detected in different structures of the guinea pig cochlea. However, there are still rather controversies about the definite localization and expression of NOS isoforms in guinea pig cochlea.OBJECTIVE: To investigate localization and expression of three NOS isoforms in the cochlea of guinea pigs, and to explore the effect of NO on auditory physiology and pathophysiology of inner ear.DESIGN: An observed and controlled study.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Jinzhou Medical College; Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinzhou Central Hospital.MATERIALS: The study was performed in Hearing Research Laboratory of China Medical University from May to November 2000. Ten healthy male albino guinea pigs, with body mass of 250-300 g, with sensitive Preyer's reflexes and normal drum membrane and external auditory canal,were selected.METHODS: After anesthesia, guinea pigs were decapitated and the temporal bones were removed immediately. The round and oval windows were opened, perfused with 40 g/L paraformaldehyde, and the specimens were immersed in the same fixative solution for 2 hours. Decalcification of the cochleae was performed in 100 g/L EDTA solution for 1 week. Then the specimens were placed in 250 g/L sucrose solution overnight and embedded in OCT. Cryostat (20 μm) sections were prepared for immunohistochemistry.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Localization and expression of three NOS isoforms in the cochlea of guinea pigs.RESULTS: All data of ten guinea pigs was entered the final analysis without any loss. [1] Neuronal-type nNOS and endothelial-type eNOS immunoreactivity were localized in inner and outer hair cells of the organ of Corti, as well as in spiral ganglion cells. In addition, staining for nNOS and eNOS were also seen in the marginal cells of stria vascularis, spiral ligament cells, and in nerve fibers. [2] Inducible-type iNOS immunoreactivity was also detected in above each structure of the guinea pig cochlea under physiological conditions.CONCLUSION:NO may play an important role in neurotransmission,blood flow regulation, and cytotoxicity.

Objective To establish the method for the content determination of sinomenine in Qiwei Tongbi oral liquid. Methods Sinomenine ofQiwei Tongbi oral liquid was determined by HPLC, with the column being Waters XTerra column temperature setting at 25℃, flow rate being 1.0 ml/min, and the detective wavelength being 262 nm. Results There was a good linearity of sinomenine in the range of 0.248～2.480 μg, and the average recovery was 98.82% with RSD of 0.13%. Conclusion This method was simple, accurate, reproducible, and thus could be used for quality control of Qiwei Tongbi oral liquid.

Objective To explore the correlation among serum total bilirubin (TBil) , invasive hemodynamic parameters, plasma N-terminal proBNP (NT-preBNP) and C reactive protain (CRP)in patients with heart failure. Methods Invasive hemodynamic parameters derived from Swan-Ganz catheter, TBil, plasma NT-proBNP and CRP within 12 hours after hospital admission were analyzed in 130 patients with chronic heart failure [Now York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅱ -Ⅳ]. Results Compared with those in non-hyperbilirubinemia group, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), NT-proBNP and left ventriculure ejection fraction were different significantly in total hyperbilirubinemia group [(26. 09 vs 16.00) mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0. 133 kPa), (3.36 vs2.91) pmol/L, (34. 12 vs 28.92)%, P<0. 05]. The serum TBil increased significantly in higher PCWP, right atrial pressure and NT-proBNP groups than those in lower level groups [(32. 22 vs 24. 17), (37.52 vs 24. 19), (32. 14 vs 16. 74) pmol/L, P < 0.05]. Partial correlation analysis showed serum TBil was associated with PCWP, right atrial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance index and NT-proBNP respectively (r = 0. 21, P = 0. 02; r = 0. 33, P < 0. 01 ; r = 0. 20, P =0. 04;r = 0. 37, P <0. 01, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis showed both right atrial pressure and NT-proBNP correlated independently with serum TBil(β= 0. 39, P < 0. 01 ;β = 0. 29,P = 0. 01, respectively). Conclusion For patients with heart failure, serum TBil correlated well with right atrial pressure, PCWP and NT-proBNP; it is a reliable indicator for exact clinical evaluation of heart failure.

Objective To investigate the influence of the lymph node micrometastasis and its clinicopathological features on postoperative disease-free survival rate for patients with gastric cancer.Methods The study included 120 patients with pT1-3NoMo gastric cancer. The relationships between clinicopathological features or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) positive expression and postoperative disease-free survival rate were analyzed. Results In clinicopathological factors, multivariate analysis identified CEA positive expression was significantly correlated with tumor diameter (P = 0.011 ),depth of tumor invasion (P= 0.027) and lymphatic vessel invasion (P= 0.001 ) in lymph node positively. The average postoperative follow-up was (53.14 ± 16.75) months. There was statistical correlation between the tumor diameter( P = 0.018 ) or depth of tumor invasion ( P = 0.015 ) and postoperative disease-free survival rate. The disease-free survival rate was 90.91% ( 80/88 ), 86.36% ( 19/22 )and 40.00% (4/10) for the lymph node CEA negative,isolated tumor cells (IT Cs) and micrometastasis,respectively. There was significant difference between micrometastasis and the lymph node CEA negative (P= 0.000) or ITCs (P = 0.009), however, the lymph node CEA negative and ITCs was no significant difference (P = 0.438 ). Lymph node micrometastssis of gastric cancer was detected in 10 patients who should belong to stage pN1,the restage rate was 8.33%(10/120). Conclusions If the patients were found micrometastasis in lymph node with high-risk stage pT1-3NoMo gastric cancer for whom chemotherapy may be recommended,because of its high recurrence and poor prognosis.

In order to solve the problems of present quartz crystal microbalance ( QCM ) measuring instruments, such as high demand for crystal cutting technology and uncomprehensive measurements for crystal parameters, a modified quadrature demodulation-based method was proposed with broadband adaptive response capacity and high frequency resolution. Moreover, it is also capable of measuring both resonant frequencies and dissipation factor D synchronously and continuously. Experimental results at room temperature indicated that the adaptive frequency range was 1-9 MHz while the frequency resolution was less than 1 Hz, measured resonance frequency shifts of crystals in the range scale linearly with the equal thickness increments of poly acrylic acid ( PAA) membrane on the working electrode, and with the volatilization of different solvent factor D is measured continuously and effectively along the time axis. To sum up, compared with traditional ones, this new method has lower material cost and more obtained parameters.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the extraction conditions of the total amino acid from Bubali Cornu.

METHODAn orthogonal test of L9 (3(4)) was designed to select optimum exaction conditions of the total amino acid. The influence of solvent concentration, the dosage of solvent and time of extraction were investigated with the content of total amino acid and thrombin-induced fibrin clotting time as index.

RESULTThe optimum extraction condition procedure was described as follows: the concentration of the solvent was 4 mol x L(-1), volume of solvent was 6 times amount of the materials.

CONCLUSIONThe optimum exaction conditions procedure is reasonable and stable.

Amino Acids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Buffaloes

Objective: To investigate the nutritious effects of IGF, HGF and Gln on intestinal mucosal precursor cells in vitro.Methods: Different combinations of IGF,HGF and Gln were used to observe their effects on the expansion and development of the cultured intestinal mucosal precursor cells.Results: The combination of IGF,HGF and Gln could markedly promote the expansion of cultured intestinal mucosal precursor cells.Although IGF or HGF alone could promote the expansion of intestinal mucosal precursor cells, they had little effects on the development.On the contrary,Gln alone can promote the development of intestinal mucosal precursor cells,but it had little effects on their expansion.Conclusion: IGF,HGF or Gln alone has little effects on the expansion and development of the intestinal mucosal precursor cells.When they are used together,they can efficiently provide the essential stimuli for the expansion of the cultured intestinal mucosal precursor cells in vitro and enable the recombination of the different cells and formation of intestinal mucosa-like structure in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo extract and purify of solamargine from Solanum nigrum, and to research its antineoplastic effects.

METHODS. nigrum was extracted refluently with 80% alcohol, solamargine was purified with silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization, and then conducted its structure identification and purity checks. Screened the effect on human tumor cell groth inhibition in vitro by MTT assay, and researched on the features in mice with H22 liver cancer or Ehrlich ascites tumor of solamargine.

RESULTThe concent of solamargine reached 97.9%. Solamargine had significantly inhibition on 6 tumor cells in vitro, and it had significantly inhibition on mice with H22 liver cancer or ehrlich ascites tumor in the 2.4 mg x kg(-1) dose of i.v.

CONCLUSIONSolamargine have the antineoplastic effect.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Solanaceous Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of the method of soothing the liver and regulating qi on expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of functional dyspepsia model rats.

METHODThe 32 rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group (n = 8). The functional dyspepsia model was established by constantly squeezing their tails and mean while saline, Chaihu Shugansan decoction and domperidone suspension were administered respectively to 4 groups by gavage. The expression of gastrin and somatostatin in hypothalamus and gastric antrum of rats by immunohistochemical were detected 3 weeks later.

RESULTThe expression of GAS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum of model group were less than those of normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while the expression of SS in the hypothalamus and gastric antrum in Model group were significantly increased than those of normal group (P < 0.01). The expression of GAS and SS in gastric antrum of Chaihu Shugansan group and domperidone group were increased and decreased respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were no obvious difference about expression of GAS, SS in the hypothalamus between domperidone group and model group. GAS expression in hypothalamus of Chaihu Shugansan group were increased than those of normal group but there was no obvious difference in SS expression in hypothalamus between Chaihu Shugansan group and model group.

CONCLUSIONThe method of soothing the liver and regulating qi can increase GAS expression in central and peripheral and decrease SS expression in peripheral gastric antrum, which may be one of its therapeutic mechanisms on functional dyspepsia.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Qi ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Somatostatin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of composite grinding dusts on rat respiratory system.

METHODSRats were administrated with grinding dusts by intratracheal injection. After 2 weeks, the total numbers of cells, the percentage of differential cell, the survival rate of cell, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were analyzed.

RESULTSAlong with increasing concentration of grinding dusts, the total number of cells in lavage also increased, and was more than that in quartz group. Compared with control group, the percentage of neutrophil in lavage of rats treated with grinding dust and quartz significantly increased and meanwhile that of macrophage significantly decreased[PMN: quartz group (33.83 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (26.50 +/- 3.99)%, (36.00 +/- 3.58)%, (38.00 +/- 2.10)% at 10, 25, 50 mg/ml respectively. Macrophages: quartz group (62.17 +/- 4.54)%; grinding dusts group (70.83 +/- 3.66)%, (60.83 +/- 2.14)%, (58.17 +/- 2.48)%] while those in control group were (2.83 +/- 0.75)%, (95.67 +/- 1.21)% respectively. The cell survival rate in lavage in control group was 80%, but that in grinding dust and TiO2 group significantly decreased(P < 0.01). The activity of LDH and ALP in all rats treated with dusts obviously increased, and there was significant difference compared with control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between grinding dust group and quartz group, and between grinding dust group and TiO2 group respectively.

CONCLUSIONMetal grinding dust is very harmful to rat's lung cells and may cause fibrogenesis in the lungs.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; cytology ; Dust ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Metals ; Rats