Objective To treat arteriosclerosis patients with a simple self-made oxygenation respirator in a re-respiration model. Methods 43 AS patients was enrolled in treatment group(Oxygenation Respirator only) and control group (drug therapy only). Results the efficacy was 92%, better than control group, the efficacy of which was 72%, and P

OBJECTIVE:To select the optimum conditions for germination test of Astragalus membranaceus seed and provide reference for the formulation of testing rules of A. membranaceus seed. METHODS:First,the dormancy of A. membranaceus seeds were broken by soaking seed with 98% H2SO4 for 30 min and 35 ℃ warm water for 9 h,then treated with different temperatures of germination,different germinating beds and light conditions. Different treatment methods were evaluated by germination rate, germination potential and germination index. RESULTS:With the increase of temperature,germination rate,germination potential and germination index decreased. At 30 ℃,germination rate,germination index,and germination potential were significantly low-er than those of seed with other treatments,in which the germination rate was the highest at 15℃;but there wasn’t significant dif-ference in germination rate of 15 ℃ and 20 ℃. There were no significant differences in germination rate of different germination beds,but sand bed could restrain bacterial growth well. Under both light and dark conditions,seed could normally germinate. The appropriate condition of A. membranacus seed germination was at 15 ℃,sand bed and dark. The germination rate,germination po-tential and germination index were(98.5±0.65)%,(85.5±0.87)%and 175.8±2.31,respectively. Meanwhile,the germination pe-riod was only 4 days. CONCLUSIONS:Suggested quality control method of A. membranaceus seed is that at 15 ℃,sand bed and dark. The second day of germination as initial counting time and forth day as the last counting time are used to calculate germina-tion index. This method is easy and controllable. It also has short germination period and high germination rate.

OBJECTIVE:To select the optimum conditions for germination test of Sophora alopecuroides seed,and to provide reference for formulating seed test rule and standardization of S. alopecuroides. METHODS:S. alopecuroides seeds were soaked in 98% H2SO4 for 30 min and 35 ℃ warm water for 29 h,and then treated under different temperature conditions (15 ℃,20 ℃, 25℃and 30℃),different germination beds(on paper,between paper,on sand,in sand)and different light conditions(2 000 lx lighting 16 h,dark). Optimal germination condition was screened by using germination rate,germinative potential and germinative index as indicators. S. alopecuroides seeds were cultured under this condition for 7 days,and then germination rate was determined. RESULTS:Different temperatures had no significant effect on germination rate,but influenced germinative potential and germina-tive index;those indicators reached maximal value at 20 ℃. Different germination beds affected each indicator,and under condi-tion of on sand,those indicators were the highest. Light treatment had no significant effect on germination indicators. Under suit-able condition,the seed sprouted since first day of germination bed treatment;germination rate was more than 90% on second day,and reached maximal value on fifth day and didn’t increase any longer. CONCLUSIONS:The suitable condition of seed ger-mination was soaking in 98% H2SO4 30 min+35 ℃ warm water for 29 h,on sand under light at 20 ℃. Initial count on second day of germination bed treatment and final count on forth day were analyzed statistically as well as germination rate. This method can be used as standard quality test of the seed of S. alopecuroides.

BACKGROUND:Common strategies for preventing diabetic nephropathy include effective control of blood sugar and blood pressure, inhibition of the rennin-angiotensin system and lipid-lowering therapy, but it is often difficult to get the desired results. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels on levels of blood glucose and urinary total protein in diabetic nephropathy rats. METHODS: Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=15 per group): normal control group, diabetic nephropathy group and stem cel transplantation group. Rats in the diabetic nephropathy and stem cel transplantation groups were given single use of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin to make diabetic nephropathy models. The same dose of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer was injected in the normal control group. After modeling, 200μL of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel solution (2×106) was injected into the left ventricle of rats in the stem cel transplantation group, and then at 7 days after the first transplantation, the cel transplantation was conducted again. The same dose of serum-free L-DMEM was injected intracardialy into the rats in the normal control and diabetic nephropathy groups. Levels of urinary total protein and blood glucose were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 1, 4, 8 weeks after treatment, the urinary total protein and blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the stem cel transplantation group and diabetic nephropathy group than the normal control group (P < 0.05). At 1 week after treatment, the urinary total protein and blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the stem cel transplantation group than the diabetic nephropathy group (P < 0.05). At 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the total urinary protein and blood glucose levels were slightly higher in the diabetic nephropathy group than the stem cel transplantation group, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation in diabetic nephropathy rats can get good results in a short period, significantly improve the blood glucose and urinary total protein levels, but the long-term treatment effect is poor.

BACKGROUND:Thrombospondin-1 is an important endogenous activator of transforming growth factor beta 1 in this experimental inflammatory kidney disease model. Transforming growth factor beta 1 is considered the major cytokine that causes tissue fibrosis in many different inflammatory disease processes, in particular in renal disease.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of thrombospondin-1 on renal fibrosis in rats.
METHODS:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group and model group. In themodel group, right ureters of rats were ligated to construct models of renal fibrosis. 3 weeks after surgery, blood and urine were obtained weekly. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and Bradford method were used to detect the contents of serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen and urinary protein. After rats were sacrificed, kidneys were fixed. Western blot assay was utilized to identify the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor beta 1 and thrombospondin-1 protein. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to detect the changes in pathological structure of the kidney after surgery.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) One week after model induction, urinary protein, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were significantly higher in the model group than in the sham surgery group (P< 0.05). Three weeks later, the difference in each index was significant (P< 0.01), which showed that the injury of the kidney was aggravated. (2) Transforming growth factor beta 1 protein and thrombospondin-1 expression was significantly higher in the model group than in the sham surgery group, but vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression was significantly lower in the model group than in the sham surgery group. (3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining results demonstrated that severe pathological changes of renal tissue in rats were detected after ligation of renal tubule. (4) These results confirmed that thrombospondin-1 expression increased in renal tissue, and its expression was strongly associated with vascular endothelial growth factor protein and transforming growth factor beta 1, which may play an important role in the renal fibrosis.

BACKGROUND:Type 1 diabetes mel itus is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized as the selective destruction of pancreatic beta cel s in the body, resulting in the lack of insulin secretion. Umbilical cord blood stem cel s have the potential to differentiate into islet cel s in vitro and in vivo, which play a certain hypoglycemic effect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of umbilical cord blood stem cel s on blood glucose levels and PDX-1 and MafA levels in the pancreatic tissue of type 1 diabetic rats. METHODS:Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 rats in each group. In treatment and model groups, type 1 diabetes mel itus modes were established. After modeling, the treatment group was given a single tail vein injection of umbilical cord blood stem cel s;the normal control group was given the same volume of normal saline;the model group was given the same volume of umbilical cord blood stem cel buffer solution. Oral glucose tolerance test was adopted to assess the islet function of rats;hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the pancreatic morphology of rats;western blot and PCR methods were employed to detect expressions of PDX-1 and MafA in pancreatic tissues at protein and mRNA levels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Compared with the normal control group, the levels of blood glucose in the model and treatment groups were significantly higher at 0, 30, 60, 90 minutes (P<0.05). At 120 minutes, the blood glucose level in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05), but there was no difference between the treatment and normal control groups (P>0.05). (2) The number of islets in the model group was decreased, and the boundary was unclear and irregular;in the treatment group, the number of islets was decreased, but the boundary was stil clear. (3) The expressions of PDX-1 and MafA in the treatment group were similar to those in the normal control group (P>0.05), but significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the umbilical cord blood stem cel transplantation can significantly reduce the blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetic rats, improve the function of islet and morphology of pancreas, and up-reuglate the expressions of PDX-1 and MafA.

Objective To analyze the relationship between polymorphisms of EDNRB gene and Hubei provincial patients of Han ethnicity with sporadic Hirschsprung disease(sHD). Methods Peripheral blood samples from 104 patients with sHD and 84 parents of 42 patients, and 120 normal children(as controls) were collected. PCR-SSCP and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect mutations and polymorphisms of exon-4 in EDNRB gene. The differences of allele frequencies and genotype distribution in polymorphic sites were further analyzed between the three groups. Allele frequencies of SNPs in forty-two sHD trios were analyzed by transmission disequilibrium test(TDT), and the association between phenotype of HD and SNPs was analyzed. Results No mutant site was detected and one polymorphic site of c831 G→A(L277L) was observed in Hubei provincial patients of Han ethnicity with sHD. The allele frequency of A(68% vs 53%) and genotype frequency of AA(49% vs 30%) were significantly higher in sHD group than that in control group(P

Ultrasonic microbubbles were used to open blood-brain barriers (BBB) with a reversed and limited behavior feature in the study, which could improve the brain-targeted delivery of anti-tumor drugs. The glioma rat model was prepared. Low-frequency ultrasound was combined with microbubbles to affect the permeability of BBB compared with the permeability of independently administered Evans blue (EB) crossing BBB. Time point and length of ultrasound were investigated whether they affect the permeability of BBB and the damage of brain tissue. The effect of the growth time of glioma on BBB permeability was explored. Only glioma had a very little impact on BBB permeability. However, ultrasonic microbubbles opened the BBB with the features of temporary, limited and reversed behavior and improved EB and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent penetrating BBB. A length of 30 s ultrasound is appropriate for opening BBB and no damage of brain tissue. Drugs should be injected before ultrasound so that they enter into brain as BBB opening. Ultrasonic microbubbles can open BBB effectively and safely, which improve drugs penetrating BBB under proper time point and length.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Contrast Media ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microbubbles ; Permeability ; Rats ; Ultrasonics

Objective To evaluate radiofrequency ablation in anatomical hepatectomy.Methods The clinical data of 57 patients undergoing anatomical hepatectomy with radiofrequency ablation (radiofrequency ablation group) from Jul 2010 to May 2013 in Tangdu Hospital were compared with those 57 cases using traditional clamp crushing resection during the same period.Results There was no mortality perioperatively.Intraoperative duration of liver dissection,haemorrhage volume of liver dissection,blood transfusion volume,Pringle manoeuvre,postoperative alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the third and fifth day in the radiofrequency ablation group were (65 ±30) min,(195 ± 107) ml,(150 ±80) ml,7 cases (12.3％),(309 ±226) U/L and (164 ±82) U/L respectively,which were statistically different from those of (50 ±40) min,(255 ± 180) ml,(205 ± 120) ml,45 (78.9％),(388 ± 174) U/L and (220 ± 156) U/L in clamp crushing resection group (seperately t =2.266,-2.158,-2.880,x2 =51.060,t =-2.090,-2.403,all P ＜ 0.05).Large branches of hepatic vein (caliber ≥ 7 mm) were injuried by mistake 7 times in radiofrequency group,there was no massive blood loss.Postoperative biliary fistula developed in two cases.There was no ablation included thrombus.In radiofrequency group,and Pringle manoeuvre was used in hemihepatic resection in 7 patients.Conclusions Radiofrequency ablation is not recommended to dissecting large caliber vessels (≥ 7 mm) for fear of causing thrombus.Radiofrequency ablation in anatomical hepatectomy,when used properly,is safe and effective.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) between the patients with hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in elder age (HHCME) and the patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (HTN-LVH).
Methods: Our work included 2 groups, HHCME group,n=47 and HTN-LVH group,n=44. Duplex Doppler echocardiography was performed to determine left atrial diameter (LAd), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), velocity of early diastolic period (VE) and velocity of end-diastolic period (VA) in mitral valve oriifce. Plasma level of NT-proBNP was measured by ELISA. The above indexes were compared between 2 groups.
Results:①Compared with HTN-LVH group, HHCME group presented decreased LVEDd and increased IVST, LVEF, allP<0.001. There were no signiifcant differences in VE/VA ratio and LAd between 2 groups, allP>0.05.②Plasma level of NT-proBNP was higher in HHCME group,P<0.01. With the adjusted age, gender, history of hypertension, LAd, IVST, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function, the level of NT-proBNP in HHCME group (1317.19 fmol/ml) was still signiifcantly higher than that in HTN-LVH group (526.19fmol/ml),P<0.01.
Conclusion: The plasma NT-proBNP level was higher in HHCME patients than that in HTN-LVH patients which indicated that HHCME patients may have worse prognosis. NT-proBNP might be helpful for differencing HHCME.