Objective To investigate the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins(PNS) on penile erection in rats with diabetes-as-sociated erectile dysfunction (ED) .Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were established diabetic rats by injecting streptozo-tocin(STZ) ,and observing erectile phenomenon by injecting apomorphine .After 4 weeks of PNS treatment (low-dose ,medium-dose , high-dose group) ,erectile function in each group was assessed by intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure(MAP) measurement .The level of nitric oxide(NO)and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP)in cavernous tissue were detected .Immu-nohistochemical staining and TUNEL were performed for detecting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and apoptosis ,respec-tively .Results ICP and ICP/MAP ratio were significantly increased in medium-dose and high-dose PNS treated groups compared with the diabetic untreated group(P<0 .05) .Compared with the diabetic untreated group ,the expression of eNOS and the levels of NO and cGMP were increased in medium-dose and high-dose PNS treated groups(P<0 .05) .The apoptosis ratecorpus of caverno-sum in 3 PNS treatment groups significantly decreased than the diabetic untreated group (P<0 .05) .Conclusion PNS can recovery the endothelial cell function in corpus cavernosum by adjusting the NO/cGMP pathway and controlling the accumulation of AGEs , and may be used for improving in diabetic ED rats .

Objective To determine whether cultured neural stem cell expresses morphogen molecule sonic hedgehog′s functional receptor patched. Methods Cultured neural stem cell clones were subjected to RT\|PCR after passaged several times in vitro ,the amplification production was sequenced and labeled by digoxingemin and in situ hybridization technique was carried out to detect the cryosection of the neural stem cell clones. Results Most cells in the stem cell clones were positive for sonic hedgehog functional receptor patched,no significant difference was found among the positive cells and the center and peripheral of the stem cell clones.Conclusion\ The sonic hedgehog signal transduction may have important role in the proliferation and differentiation process of neural stem cell.\;[

Objective To observe the relationship between urine albumin excretion rate (UAE), growth factors and the bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Fourteen controls and 51 elderly male patients with diabetes divided into three groups: normal albuminuria(UAE

OBJECTIVE:To observe the activity of Pyrazinamide gel against Mycob ac terium tuberculosis in vitro and its security in bronchial interventional therap y METHODS:The MIC and MBC of Pyrazinamide and Pyrazinamide gel were measured b y handwork method and instrument method and secuity of Pyrazinamide gel was asse ssed by bronchial interventional therapy in rabbits RESULTS:The MICs of pyrazi namide gel to M tuberculosis H37 RV,M bovis and M phlei were 1mg/L,1mg/L,1 0mg/L,the MBCs of Pyrazinamide gel to M tuberculosis H37RV,M bovis and M ph lei were 10mg/L,10mg/L,40mg/L respectively;the MIC and MBC of Pyrazinamide gel and those of Pyrazinamide had no significant differences;the animal security ex periment was negative CONCLUSION:These results suggest that Pyrazinamide gel a nd Pyrazinamide have the same efficacy against M tuberculosis,because carbomer dose not affect the activity of Pyrazinamide against M tuberculosis;Pyrazinami de gel which contains carbomer is safe in bronchial interventional therapy

Objective To examine the expression of protein kinase signaling cascade protein kinase B (Akt)-which plays an im-portant role in a number of key biological functions in cellular processes after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats ,and its effects on SCI induced motor function defects ,and to provide the molecular mechanism for repairing SCI .Methods SCI was produced by extra-dural contusion using modified Allen′s stall with damage energy .The rats were divided into three groups :sham-operated group (Sham) ,interference group (Int) ,and control group (Con) .Using immunostaining studies ,Western blot analyses and real-time qualitative RT-PCR analyses ,we detected the changes of Akt expression at the protein and mRNA level in spinal cord tissues at 1 , 7 ,and 14 d after surgery ,and evaluated the presence and extent of neurological impairment after SCI by the BBB locomotor rating scale .Results The sham operated groups exhibited low expression of the Akt signaling at the protein and mRNA level ,and the ex-pressions increased following SCI .Compared to the animals in the sham operated groups ,prominently elevated level of Akt signaling was detected in the injured spinal cords of SCI group .LY294002 ,an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) that initiates Akt phosphorylation ,prominently inhibited the expression of Akt produced by SCI and the spontaneous recovery of motor function after SCI .Conclusion Activated protein kinase signaling cascade Akt might be the important intervention aspects of involving in neuroprotective and repair process after SCI .

Objective To evaluate the effects of metformin on thyrotropin(TSH)levels. Methods From the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome, 48 patients with primary hypothyroidism were enrolled and grouped. 17 patients were treated only with metformin(group A), 19 patients with metformin and stable L-T4substitution(group B), and the remaining 12 patients with antidiabetic drugs(other than metformin)and L-T4(group C). Meanwhile, 20 euthyroid patients with other thyroid abnormalities(group D)and 30 patients without thyroid diseases(group E)served as control. TSH, FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4, and blood glucose were determined regularly in all these subjects. Results After administration of metformin for 12 months, serum TSH were decreased in group A [(5.05±1.07 vs 2.61±0.91)mU/L, P＜0.01] and group B [(2.67±1.03 vs 1.35±0.74)mU/L, P＜0.01]. No difference was found in FT3and FT4in both groups. TSH levels were raised from(1.30±0.71)to(2.58±1.02)mU/L(P＜0.01)within 8～12 weeks in 13 out of 15 patients after metformin withdrawal. Serum TSH and thyroid hormones in the other 3 groups were not significantly changed. Conclusion Administration of metformin may lead to reduction of serum TSH level.

Objective To explore the clinical effect and side-effect of oxaliplatin(L-OHP)-containing regimen and cisplatin (DDP)-containing regimen in TACE of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods 108 patients with advanced HCC were randomly divided into experimental group(n=55) and control group (n =53). The experimental group were treated with TACE using L-OHP. After dilute with glucose solution, L-OHP(130 mg/m2) and FT207 (500-750 mg/m2) were injected into blood vessel respectively. ADM (40 mg/m2) and LP (10～30 ml) were emulsified and then used for vessel embolism according to the size of focus. The control group received TACE with DDP, DDP (40 mg/m2) and F]'207(500～750 mg,/m2) were diluted with glucose solution, and also according to the size of tumor' s focus, ADM(40 mg/m2) and LP(10～30 ml) were emulsified for vessel embolism, and then diuretic. Results The total effective rate of experimental group was 67.3 % (37/55), and that of control group was 47.2 % (25/53), and the difference was with statistical significance (P <0.05). The descent rate of AFP of experimental group was 73.1%(31/43), and that of control group was 44.7 % (17/38), and the difference was with statistical significance (P <0.05). The main side effects were gastrointestinal reactions, the incidence rate of nausea and vomiting in experimental group were lower than control group, and the difference was with statistical significance. The incidence rate of leucopenia, damage of hepatic function and peripheral neuritis were not significant. Damage of heart and kidney were not found in the two sets. Conclusion L-OHP -containing regimen in TACE of advanced HCC is an efficient method, with good security and good tolerance to patients.

Objective To summary the echocardiographie features of the patients with dissection into interventricular septum (IVS) and to analyze the etiology.Methods The data of 13 cases with the dissection into the interventricular septum diagnosed by echocardiography were reviewed to summarize the echocardiographic features and the analysis of etiology.Results Among the 13 patients with dissection into IVS,11 patients were dissected into IVS from the right sinus of Valsalva (SOV),in which 5 patients were from single aneurysm of the right SOV,one patient was from a combination of a bicuspid aortic valve and right SOV,4 patients were from aortic valve infection of infective endocarditis,and one patient was induced by severe paravalvular leak after mechanical aortic valve prosthetic replacement was complicated by annular detachment.In all 11 patients,eehocardiography showed a dissecting cystic-like mass in the IVS from the base to mid septum or confined to the septal base.The path of the dissection in all these patients was traced to the right SOV.In the other 2 patients,IVS dissection followed septum rupture due to a myocardial infarction.Conclusions Echocardiography could accurately diagnose dissections of the IVS and to analyze the etiology,which is very helpful to make the clinical medical strategy.

Objective To compare the growth property of the stem cells taken from different brain regions at the same developmental stage. Methods Mice embryos at the same development stage were isolated under sterile conditions, cortex, striatum, diencephalon, mid-hind brain and spinal cord were collected and pooled separately, after single-cell suspension obtained, different regions' cell suspensions were seeded in FGF supplemented serum-free culture medium. Followed the neural stem cell clone(neurospheres) fromation, immuno-cytochemistry method was utilized to identify the cell characteristics, all these clones were passaged under same conditions, clone formation and cell migration were observed under phase-contrast microscope. Results In the FGF added serum-free medium, neural cells experienced a large scale death within 48h after being seeded, then few single cells began to proliferate and formed the floating cell clones in the medium. These clones (neurospheres) could form new clones when seeded as single cell suspension. If these clones were seeded on poly-orithine, they could differentiate into neurons and glia cells. Compare the clone formation and cell migration, we found that: cortex, striatum, diencephalon all could form floating clones with different rate, the cortex formed clones at the highest rate, striatum and diencephalon at lower rate; few neurospheres formed from cortex adhered to the culture plate substrate and few cells were found migrating out from the adhered clones, striatum and diencephalon derived neurospheres adhered the plate more easily, and there were apparent cell migration. Mid-hind brain and spinal cord formed clones at the lowest rate, floating clones were scarce, and the clones adhered to the substrate readily, there were large amount of cell migrating out from these adhered clones. Conclusion Neural stem cells could proliferate and be passaged in vitro in serum-free medium, and they could be induced to differentiate under certain conditions into major cells types of CNS, there were differences in clone forming rate and cell migration between neural stem cells derived from different CNC regions, nonetheless they were at the same development stage, this may reflect that, in some degree, these cells can keep some of their region-specified developmental intrinsic property in vitro.

Objective To determine the safety of the fetal olfactory ensheathing cell(OEC) transplantation in patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) by examination of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods A prospective clinical study involving 16 patients with chronic SCI was designed to investigate the feasibility and biological safety of the fetal OEC transplantation in treatment of SCI. The olfactory bulbs from the 3-4-month-old aborted human fetuses following the strict ethical guidelines were harvested and trypsinized down to single fetal OEC. These cells were then cultured for 12-17 days and were prepared for a clinical use. From November 2001 to December 2002, 16 patients with chronic SCI were randomly enrolled. The patients suffered from SCI for 1.5-8 years (average 4.3 years) after the injury. The suspension (50 μl) containing about 1×106 fetal OECs was transplanted by an injection into the patients' spinal cords above and below the injury site. All the patients were assessed before the transplantation and were followed up with MRI for 29-42 months (average 38 mon) after the transplantation. Results No cell-related adverse effects were observed in any patient during the follow-up period. The follow-up with MRI did not reveal any development of optic glial tumor, tumor-like mass, new hemorrhage, edema, expanding cyst, new cyst formation, infection or disruption of the neural structure in the transplant site of all the patients. Conclusion This is the first clinical study demonstrating the long-term safety of the OEC therapy for SCI. The results indicate that our protocol is feasible and safe in treatment of patients with chronic SCI within 38 months after the injury. Although the size of the samples for our study was not big enough, the positive results of the study have encouraged us to make a further research in this field.