This study is to report the study of protective effects of myricitrin against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and the investigation of the possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin. The model of H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was used to determine the protective effects of myricitrin. The levels of LDH, MDA and the activities of SOD, NO were measured using the respective kits. The H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was detected using MTT reduction, TUNEL assay, JC-1 and ROS staining. The activation of Caspase-3 was also measured by fluorometry. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined with Western blotting assay. Myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results show that myricitrin could attenuate H2O2-induced decrease in the activities of SOD (P < 0.01). Myricitrin could decrease the levels of LDH, MDA and increase cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01). Myricitrin had protective effects in a dose-dependent manner between 32 micromol x L(-1) to 64 micromol x L(-1). Myricitrin pretreatment could attenuate H2O2-induced increase of p-ERK. Moreover, myricitrin pretreatment could up-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, down-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and decrease the expression of Caspase-3, 9. In conclusion, myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Myricitrin can enhance the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and decrease the production of free radicals. The possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin are due to myricitrin-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of the apoptosis signaling pathways-related kinase ERK, up-regulation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, and down-regulation of the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein.

Objective To study the left atrial appendage (LAA) function and haemodynamics by transesophageal echocardiography,and predict high risk of thrombosis.Methods Eighty-nine consecutive patients were studied using transesophageal echocardiography.According to with spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) or not,all patients were divided into SEC group (n =17) and non-SEC group (n-=72).LAA emptying peak flow velocity (LAA-EV),filling peak flow velocity (LAA-FV) were measured by pulsed Doppler.The middle segment of the LAA medial wall systolic peak velocity (LAA-TSV) and diastolic peak velocity (LAA-TDV) were obtained by tissue Doppler imaging.LAA color Doppler and M-mode color Doppler images were acquired and derived the LAA emptying flow propagation velocity (LAA-EPV).Results LAA-EV,LAA-FV,LAA-TSV,LAA-TDV,LAA-EPV of SEC group were lower than those of non-SEC group (P ＜0.05).LAA M-mode color Doppler had four characteristic patterns,N pattern (normal pattern) which flow eject from LAA apical to LAA orifice,R pattern (reverse pattern) which flow eject from LAA orifice to LAA apical,V pattern (vertical pattern) vertical signals seen in systole and without efficient flow,S pattern (stasis pattern) almost no flow signal.V,R and S patterns may indicate high risk of SEC and thrombosis.LAA-EPV had strong correlation with LAA-EV (r =0.742,P ＜0.001),and moderate correlation with LAA-TSV (r =0.462,P ＜0.01),LAA-EV had strong correlation with LAA-TSV (r =0.600,P ＜0.01).Conclusions LAA dysfunction would result in hypokinetic LAA wall motion and reduced blood flow velocity.Emptying abnormalities of LAA might be the important reasons for blood stasis and thrombus formation.Emptying characteristic low patterns of V,R and S might be novel methods to predict high risk of thrombus.

Objective To investigate the effects of antioxidant response element (ARE) activator- 5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[ C ]-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (CPDT) on organotypic spinal cord cultures and to study whether this activation can protect motor neurons from oxidative stress.Methods Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord slices from 8-day-old rat.Threo-hydroxyaspartate (THA) was continuously added into the culture medium for 3 weeks,which caused selective motor neuron death. Thus,the in vitro model of amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) was established.15,30 ?mol/L of CPDT were added into the culture medium respectively.Ventral motor neurons survival was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody SMI-32,a nonphosphorylated neurofilament marker. Ultrastructure was observed with electronic microscope.Results The pretreatment of organotypic spinal cord cultures with different concentrations of CPDT significantly increase the total number of ventral motor neurons (15?mol/L:(15.81?6.97) perexplant;30?mol/L:(16.25?6.74) perexplant respectively) compared with THA group ((5.31?5.76) perexplant) and the former had plentiful neurite extensions (n= 15,P

Objective To investigate the application value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in monitoring the response to chemotherapy of primary bone lymphoma(PBL). Methods Sixteen consecutive patients with PBL confirmed by pathology were enrolled in this retrospective study.All patients underwent a controlled MRI including a DWI sequence before chemotherapy and after the first chemotherapy session. The ADC values of PBL lesions were measured before and after the first chemotherapy session. All patients were divided into responders and non-responders groups according to the combined response assessment criteria. The difference in ADC values between the responders and non-responders groups before and after chemotherapy and the rate of change of ADC values were compared using Wilcoxon test. The paired t test was used to compare ADC values before and after chemotherapy in each group. Results Twenty-three cases of PBL lesions were diagnosed in 16 patients before the chemotherapy. After the first chemotherapy session, 10 patients (12 lesions) and 6 patients (11 lesions) were categorized into the responder and non-responder group, respectively. The mean pre-treatment ADC value of the responder group and non-responder group were 737.1(301.7,928.4)× 10-6mm2/s and 749.2(624.4, 1186.5)× 10-6mm2/s, which had no statistically significant difference (Z=1.51,P=0.132). The mean post-treatment ADC value of the responder group and non-responder group were 1843.0(721.5,2745.8)× 10-6mm2/s and 1026.3(382.8,2100.8)× 10-6mm2/s, which had no statistically significant difference (Z=-1.75,P=0.079). The post-treatment ADC value of the responder group significantly increased [156.7(60.9,227.5)%] while the post-treatment ADC value of the non-responder group slightly increased [31.7(-44.7,147.4)%]. The difference in the percentage changes of ADC values in the responder and non-responder groups before and after the treatment was statistically significant(Z=-3.66,P<0.001). Conclusion The measurement of the percentage changes of ADC values enable a good short-term response evaluation for PBL.

Long non-coding RNA (long non-coding RNA, ln- cRNA) contains loci with transcriptional nucleotides of more than 200nt in length. As one group of the nucleotides that are similar to mRNA in molecular structure, but do not have the function of coding proteins due to the lack of open reading frame, IncRNA plays an important role in many molecular biological processes. LncRNA can express a lot of transcriptions. It has been found more than half of IncRNA highly expressed in central nervous system, and participated in maintaining normal brain function and inducing neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia, autism and depression. Depression, as a complex and heterogeneous mental disease, is considered an important risk factor for disability and suicide. At the cellular and molecular levels, IncRNAs affect composition and function of certain specific nervous systems, such as hippocampal development and neuronal apoptosis, constituting relevant factors for the occurrence and development of depression. This article aims to review the variation characteristics of IncRNA in depression and to explore the potential possibility of IncRNA as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Objective To observe the influence of nandrolone phenylpropionate(NP) on the ultrastructure of aorta in rats with or without movement training,and investigate the side effects of NP on the cardiovascular system. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into sedentary control group,sedentary+medicine group,exercise control group and exercise+medicine group.For the groups with medical treatment,NP of 10 mg/kg one time every three days was injected into the rats via gluteus for eight weeks.For the exercise groups,rats were trained to run on treadmill five days per week for eight weeks.The aortae were sampled and specimens were obtained for transmission electron microscopy. Results The ultrastructure of aorta was normal in sedentary control group.For sedentary+medicine group,mitochondrial swelling,vacuolated cytoplasm and lysis of endothelial cells were observed,disruption of intercellular conjunctions,widening of subendothelial spaces and furcation and breakage of internal elastic lamina were found,and smooth muscle cells changed into synthesis type.For exercise control group,no obvious morphologic change was observed,except that part of the internal elastic lamina disrupted.In exercise+medicine group,breakage and lysis of endothelial cells were observed,widening of subendothelial spaces and lysis of internal elastic lamina were found,and autophagosome and myelinoid body were seen in smooth muscle cells. Conclusion NP may lead to the impairment of endothelial cells and the change of smooth muscle cells into synthesis type.Exercise with NP administration may result in more severe impairment in vessel wall.

OBJECTIVETo study the antioxidant activity in vitro of five flavonoids contained Hebei balmy chrysanthemum, luteolin, apigenin, acacetin, acacetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside and acacetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside and discuss the antioxidant mechanism of Hebei balmy chrysanthemum as well as the structure-activity relationship of antioxidant activity of flavonoids.

METHODUV-visible spectrophotometric method was used to determine the DPPH scavenging rate and anti-hemolysis activity of the five flavonoids. The inhibitions on lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate were evaluated by measuring the content of MDA, and detected by the TBA method. The effect on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in rat plasma was detected by GSH-Px kit.

RESULTThe flavonoids from Hebei balmy chrysanthemum showed better activity in scavenging DPPH radical, protecting RBC from hemolysis, inhibiting lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate, and increasing the activity of GSH-Px in rat plasma. The order of antioxidant efficacy was as follows: luteolin > luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside > apigenin > acacetin > acacetin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside.

CONCLUSIONThe antioxidant activity of Hebei balmy chrysanthemum is related to the effect of flavonoids in scavenging radical, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing the activity of GSH-Px. And the antioxidant activity of flavonoids is related to the number and position of hydroxide radicals and the steric hindrance of glucoside.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo screen biomarkers which can be used as an auxiliary method in the diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and to evaluate their diagnostic values by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

METHODSA total of 127 children diagnosed with HSP between April 2012 and March 2014 were included in the HSP group and an equal number of healthy children were included in the control group. Twelve parameters, i.e., serum amyloid protein A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, and IgE), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, complements C3 and C4, anti-streptolysin O, and ferritin, were analyzed. The values of the screened biomarkers for diagnosis of HSP were assessed by ROC curve analysis.

RESULTSThe HSP group had significantly higher levels of SAA, IL-6, CRP, WBC, IgA, and IgM than the control group (P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve of SAA, IL-6, WBC, IgA, and IgM for the diagnosis of HSP were higher than 0.7 (P<0.05). The optimal cut-off values of SAA, IgA, IgM, WBC, and IL-6 for the diagnosis of HSP were 3.035 μg/mL, 1579.5 mg/L, 922.5 mg/L, 8.850 × 10⁹/L, and 7.035 pg/mL, respectively; the corresponding sensitivities of the optimal cut-off values for the diagnosis of HSP were 95.1%, 75.6%, 72.3%, 78.0%, and 63.4%, respectively, and the corresponding specificities were 90.2%, 85.4%, 82.4%, 70.7%, and 80.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSAA, IgA, IgM, WBC, and IL-6 are valuable biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of HSP and among them SAA seems to be the best one.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Xinmaitong capsule (XMT) on serum matrix metalloproteinases-9, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD63 cases were divided by randomized, contrastive assigned to XMT group (n = 31) and control group (n = 32). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP before and after treatment in 12 weeks were detected.

RESULTAfter treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9 in control group had no changed and the levels of hs-CRP reduced. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP in XMT group had significantly decreased. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP had positive correlation, but had no correlation to levels of serum lipids.

CONCLUSIONXMT decreased breakdown of matrix collagen, and inflammatory reaction in the patients of ACS, which may have effect on plaque stabilization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective:To observe whether the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving sex hormone disorders and follicle development is by decreasing the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in rats with experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).Methods:Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups,a normal group (NG),a model group (MG),an EA at acupoints group (EAAG),and an EA at non-acupoints group (EANAG),with 10 rats in each group.The rats in the EAAG and EANAG were intervened by EA treatment for consecutive 14 d.Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected as the acupoints in the EAAG,and the tip of the tail and 1 cm up from the tail tip were selected as the non-acupoints in the EANAG.After treatment,the histomorphological changes of the ovary,the levels of aromatase P450 (P450arom),testosterone and estradiol in the ovarian tissues,and the expressions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and AMH were observed.Results:After treatment,compared with the MG and EANAG,the expression of AMH decreased (P＜0.05),the levels of P450arom and estradiol increased significantly,and the level of testosterone decreased significantly (all P＜0.01) in the EAAG.Additionally,several normal follicles were present and the number of cystically dilated follicles decreased in the EAAG.Compared with the MG and EANAG,the EAAG obviously had more follicular granulosa cells.Conclusion:EA can down-regulate the abnormally increased expression of AMH to improve sex hormone disorders and follicle development in PCOS rats.