BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a disorder involving the pulmonary circulation resulting from a blockage of the pulmonary artery. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of aspirin on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in a rat model of APE. METHODS: A total of 108 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n=18 rats per group): control group, sham operation group, APE model group, and low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups. Six, 24, and 72 hours after the induction of APE, rats in the low-, medium- and high-dose aspirin groups were given aspirin at a respective daily dose of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg by gavage for three consecutive days. Rats in the other groups were treated with equal volumes of normal saline. Six rats in each group were anesthetized with 10％ chloral hydrate solution at each time point, and then the lung tissues were colected and analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical staining was present in the bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar cells, macrophages, and surrounding bronchial smooth muscle cells. When compared with the APE model group, the number of positive cells was significantly lower in the other groups at each time point (P<0.001). Statistically significant differences were also observed among the aspirin-treated groups at 6 hours (P<0.05,P<0.001). Compared with the APE model group, NF-κB protein expression was reduced in the other groups at each time point (P<0.05,P<0.001). Rats from the APE model group had thrombosis, damaged alveolar walls, and pulmonary hemorrhage, along with different degrees of infl ammatory cellular infiltration at each time point. However, pathological changes such as pulmonary hemorrhage and infiltration of inflammatory cells were attenuated after the aspirin treatment. CONCLUSION: Aspirin can significantly inhibit NF-κB activity in the lung of rats with APE in a dose-dependent manner, and can alleviate lung injury after APE.

By using the Medical Case Inquiry System and registries of infant's birth,the number of women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)and the total number of women delivering in the First and Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University,Chongqing Xinqiao Hospital,and Chongqing Health Center For Women and Children from 2005 to 2009 were obtained.The data of 540 pregnant women with GDM were further analyzed.From 2005 to 2009,the incidence of GDM increased from 2.29% to 3.81 %(P<0.05).The diagnosis of GDM was made earlier by 28.0 weeks in 2009 compared with 31.3 weeks in 2005(P<0.05).Body mass index during GDM diagnosis manifested a growing trend(25.6-28.1 kg/m2),but no significance(P>0.05).From 2005 to 2009,the other related factors,including the average maternal age,the constituent ratio of women with advanced maternal age,pregnancy history,delivery history,and family history of diabetes showed insignificant changes(P>0.05).

Objective To prepare iRGD modified liposome(iRGD-LP)and evaluate their targeting efficiency in vitro and in vivo to colon cancer cell.Methods The iRGD-LP was prepared by film-ultrasonic method,its particle size and Zeta potential were evaluated.The cellular uptake efficiency of RKO cell to LP and iRGD-LP were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.Tumor spheroid model were constructed and the penetration efficiency of solid tumor were evaluated.Ectopic colon cancer nude mice model was constructed,and iRGD -LP distribution in the rat body were studied.Results The particle diameter of iRGD-LP was (109.4 ±12.9)nm with the Zeta potential of (4.2 ±1.47)mV.The cellular uptake efficiency of RKO cell to iRGD-LP were 3.2 times higher than that of LP(P<0.01).The tumor spheroid penetration test and iRGD-LP distribution in vivo imaging results showed iRGD-LP had the strongest fluorescence intensity.Conclusion The iRGD-LP might serve as a promising colon cancer delivery system of antitumor drugs.

A HPLC method of analysis of Monascus citrinin was established. More than 30 strains of Monascus spp. were cultured in steamed rice at solid state or in MSG liquid medium composed of monosodium glutamate as sole nitrogen source and glucose as sole carbon to investigate their ability of producing citrinin. The results indicated that most of the Monascus strains are able to produce citrinin. MSG medium can be used as a specific culture medium to qualitatively identify if the strain is the potential citrinin producer. But to confirm whether the Monascus strains are potential citrinin producers, these strains should be cultured in several cultivation methods, as the culture states and culture conditions influence the citrinin production greatly.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on the protein expression of c-fos in fastigial nucleus (FN) and lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) in rats with acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), and to explore the role and mechanism of FN and LHA in EA at the Heart Meridian fighting against acute MIRI reaction. Methods: Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, an EA-Heart Meridian group and an EA-Lung Meridian group, with 14 rats in each group; an LHA lesion plus EA-Heart Meridian group (LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group) and a FN lesion plus EA-Heart Meridian group (FN+EA-Heart Meridian group), with 7 rats in each group. Except the sham operation group, the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery was ligated to establish acute MIRI rat models in the other 5 groups. In the three groups with EA-Heart Meridian treatment, Shenmen (HT 7) and Tongli (HT 5) were selected; Taiyuan (LU 9) and Lieque (LU 7) were selected in the EA-Lung Meridian group. All the EA groups received EA stimulation prior to modeling, with 1 mA in current intensity and 2 Hz in frequency, 20 min each time, once a day for a total of 7 d. The sham operation group and the model group did not receive EA stimulation. The electrocardiogram was observed in the rats to analyze the ST-segment deviation and cardiac arrhythmia score. The expression of c-fos protein in FN and LHA was detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the ST-segment deviation, cardiac arrhythmia score and the expression of c-fos protein in the FN and LHA increased significantly in the model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the ST-segment deviation, cardiac arrhythmia score and the expression of c-fos protein in FN and LHA decreased significantly in the EA-Heart Meridian group (all P<0.05). Compared with the EA-Heart Meridian group, the ST-segment deviation and cardiac arrhythmia score increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group, LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group and FN+EA-Heart Meridian group (all P<0.05); the expression of c-fos in FN increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group and LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group (both P<0.05); the expression of c-fos in LHA increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group and FN+EA-Heart Meridian group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: FN and LHA are involved in the mechanism of EA at Heart Meridian to improve the acute MIRI reactions, and the cerebellum may participate in the improvement of cardiac function by EA through the cerebellum-hypothalamus projection.

Astrocytes maintain homeostasis of neuronal microenvironment, provide metabolic and trophic support to neurons and modulate neuronal responses to injury. Rotenone specifically inhibits mitochondrial complex I, and long exposure to rotenone may increase the risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) and cause Parkinsonism. However, little is known about the role of astrocytes in the process of rotenone-induced dopaminergic neuron injury. In order to investigate this issue, we used MN9D cells as a cell model of dopaminergic neurons and rotenone as a toxin to initiate mitochondrial deficiency. MN9D cells treated with the normal medium or astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) were exposed to different concentrations of rotenone for different time followed by cell viability measurement by MTT assay. Besides, various concentrations of ACM and temporally different treatments were devised to evaluate protective efficiency of ACM. Growth curve of cells in the normal medium or ACM was continuously assessed by cell counting for 8 d. The influence of rotenone and ACM on cellular oxidative stress was determined by DCFH-DA staining followed by flow cytometric analysis. Glutathione (GSH) content after treatment of ACM or rotenone was measured by GSH assay kit. Our results showed that rotenone decreased viability of MN9D cells in a dose-dependent manner and ACM treatment significantly attenuated rotenone toxicity at each concentration. No significant difference in growth rate was observed between the normal medium and ACM treatment. Four concentrations of ACM, namely 1/3ACM, 1/2ACM, 2/3ACM and pure ACM, all displayed protection, increasing cell viability to (124.15+/-0.79)%, (126.59+/-0.82) %, (125.84+/-0.61) % and (117.15+/-1.63) % of the cells exposed directly to rotenone, respectively. Treatment with ACM through the whole experiment except the initial 24 h, 24 h before or at the same time of rotenone addition all exerted protective effects, with cell viability being (110.11+/-2.52)%, (113.30+/-2.36) %, (114.42+/-2.00)% of the cells exposed directly to rotenone, respectively. Conversely, ACM treatment 12 h after rotenone addition had no protective effect, with cell viability being (102.54+/-1.36)% of the cells exposed directly to rotenone. Moreover, ACM treatment up-regulated GSH level in MN9D cells nearly twofold. Incubation with 100 nmol/L rotenone for 24 h depleted GSH level by nearly two thirds of the control, but ACM treatment mitigated the drop of GSH level, maintaining its content at (147.83+/-0.63)% of the control. Consistent with GSH change, rotenone administration resulted in a positive rate of 96.24% of DCF staining, implying a great extent of oxidative stress, whereas treatment with ACM reduced the extent of oxidative stress to a positive rate of 78.31%. Taken together, these findings suggest that astrocytes protect MN9D cells from oxidative stress caused by rotenone, and GSH partially accounts for the protection. Therefore, astrocytes may play a protective role in the process of PD.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; Glutathione ; analysis ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rotenone ; toxicity

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of atorvastatin calcium combined with valsartan in the treatment of essential hypertension.Methods One hundred and thirty patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into control group ( n=65 ) and treat-ment group ( n =65 ).Control group was given valsartan 160 mg, qd.Treatment group was received atorvastatin calcium 20 mg, every night on the basis of control group.The clinical efficacy , the expression levels of serum ghrelin and homocysteine , and the incidence of adverse drug reac-tions were compared between two groups.Results After treatment , the total effective rate of treatment group was significantly higher than that of control group ( 86.15% vs 41.54%, P <0.05 ).After treatment , the expression levels of serum serum ghrelin and homocysteine in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group [(8.18 ±1.17)μg· L-1 vs(10.27 ±1.32)μg· L-1,(10.18 ±2.21)μmol· L-1 vs ( 18.57 ±2.64 )μmol · L-1 , P<0.01 ].There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions between two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin calcium combined with valsartan have a definitive clinical efficacy for the treatment of essential hypertension , without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Objective To review and analyze the history and current situation of stomatological journals in China from 1949 to 2009. Methods The data from journal database, web sites and yearbooks were collected, and the information on Chinese dental journals, national economic indicators and the development in dental disciplines from 1949 to 2009 were obtained. Results The dental journals numbered one kind, four issues in 1949 and 32 kinds, 204 issues in 2009. China's gross domestic product(GDP) was from 67.9 billion Yuan in 1949 to 30.067 trillion Yuan in 2008. Conclusions The quantity of stomatological journals in China has increased remarkably over the past 60 years.

Objective To explore the blood lipid level,lifestyle and its correlation among health examination population in Shenzhen,so as to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia.Methods Coin-tossing method was used to recruited 720 cases from health examination population,and were investigated with the general questionnaire and health-promoting lifestyle profile ( HPLP),detected the four items of fasting blood lipid and analyzed the correlation between the lifestyle and blood lipid level.Results The total average score of lifestyle was ( 136.45 ± 20.51 ),with the interpersonal relations average score (26.53 ±4.00) was highest,and physical exercise average score ( 17.70 ±4.96) was lowest,and the percent of unhealthy lifestyle was 36.11％ in 720 health examination person.The mean values of total cholesterol (TC),triglycerides (TG),low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C)respectively were ( 5.75 ± 1.09 ),( 2.47 ± 1.09 ),(4.00 ± 0.84 ),( 1.27 ± 0.77 ) mmol/L.The lifestyle was overall negatively correlated with TC,TG,LDL-C ( r =-0.814,-0.690,-0.798,respectively;P ＜ 0.01 ),and positively correlated with HDL-C ( r =0.799,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Nursing personnel should implement specific health education and take intervention measures so as to change their unhealthy lifestyle,improve the blood lipid level,prevent or reduce the clinical cardiovascular events happening and improve their living quality.

AIM: To compare the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of the domestic and imported sustained-release tablets of gliclazide in healthy volunteers. METHODS:The study was performed by an four-period crossover design with singledose and multiple-dose administration. The plasmadrug concentrations of twenty male healthy volunteers were determined by liquid chromatography with mass spectrum detector method (LC-MS). RESULTS:The pharmacokinetic parameters after a single oral dose of the domestic and imported gliclazide tablets were (7.2+s 1.5) h and (6.9 +1.4) h for tmax, (13.4 ±1.2) h and (13.7 +1.3) h for t1/2, (2.4 +0.8) mg ·L-1and (2.3 ±0.6) mg· L-1 forcmax, (48 ±14)mg · h · L-1 and (48 +14) mg· h · L-1 forAUC0-60,(51+15) mg· h· L-1 and (50±14) mg· h· L-1for AUC0-∞, (22.4 ± 1.9 ) h and (22.8 ± 1.9 ) h for MRT, respectively. The steady state pharmacokinetic parameters after multiple doses of the domestic and imported gliclazide tablets were (6. 1 ± 1.4) h and (6.5+1.4) h for tmax, (4.6±0.9) mg· L-1 and (4.7±1.1) mg· L-1 for cmax, (0.23 ±0.08) mg ·L-1and (0.26±0.08) mg· L-1 forcmin, (1.6±0.3) mg·L-1 and (1.6±0.3) mg · L-1 for mean value of steady plasma-drug concentration (cav),(94±19) mg· h · L-1 and (95 ±20) mg · h · L-1forAUCss, (282 ±33)% and (283 ±43)% for degree of fluctuation DF ), respectively. The relative bioavailability of the domestic gliclazide tablet to the imported gliclazide tablet following a single and multiple dose were ( 102 ± 9) % and (99 ± 10 ) %, respectively. Main pharmacokinetic parameters between the two formulations in both single and multiples dose studies showed no statistical difference ( P >0.05 ). CONCLUSION: The result of two one side t-test shows that the two formulations are bioequivalent.