Objective: To study the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ( LBP ) on blood indexes and liver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and LBP low, medium and high dose group. The rats in the model group and LBP dose groups were given 60 mg/kg alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ( ANIT ) by gavage every three days of the experiment, and the rats in the control group were given salad oil instead of ANIT. From the third day, the rats in each dose group were given 40, 150 and 600 mg/kg LBP, and the rats in the model group were given distilled water. After four weeks, the blood and urine indexes were measured, and the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed. Results: From the third day of the experiment, the activity of rats in the model group and LBP dose groups decreased, and the color of urine changed to dark yellow. There was no abnormality in the group. In the model group, the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid ( TBA ), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ), γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GGT), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), white blood cell ( WBC ), percentage of granulocyte, urinary bilirubin, urinary bile acid, liver mass and liver to body ratio were higher than those in the control group, while red blood cell and percentage of lymphocyte were lower than those in the control group ( all P<0.05 ). Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed. The levels of serum TBA, ALP, γ-GGT, ALT, AST, WBC and liver to body ratio in LBP high dose group were lower than those in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation and expansion of bile duct, degeneration and necrosis of liver cells were alleviated. Conclusions LBP can improve the blood indexes and pathological changes of liver tissue in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis at the dosage of 600 mg/kg. Inhibition of inflammatory response and reduction of oxidative stress injury may be the mechanism for alleviating cholestatic liver injury.

Objective To explore the relationship between the test of drug-induced electroencephalography(EEG) and epilepsy.Methods324 patients with epilepsy were randomly divided into 2 groups, the benadrly group(n=162) and chloral hydrate group(n=162) as control. EEG was examined by evoking during sleep to observe epileptiform discharge and which stage of non-rapid eye movements (NREM) epileptiform discharge occurred more frequently.ResultsThe epileptiform discharge was 31.61% in benadrly group, and 18.52% in chloral hydrate group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The detection rate of epileptiform discharge at the stage I～II of NREM was significantly higher in benadrly group (83.7%) than in chloral hydrate group(63.3%)(P<0.05), which suggested that epileptiform discharge frequently occurred at the stage I～II of NREM.ConclusionBenadrly is superior to chloral hydrate in the test of drug-induced EEG of epilepsy.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of a herbal pilatory for external use. Methods : An acute eye irritation test were employed to detect the eye irritation of the herbal pilatory;a skin irritation test,a skin sensitization test and a skin phototoxicity test were employed to detect the dermal toxicity;Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay（Ames test）and chromosome aberration test in CHL cells were employed to detect the effects of the pilatory on gene mutation and chromosome aberration in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Results: When the eyes of rabbits exposed to the pilatory without rinse during the first 24 hours,the conjunctiva showed congestion and edema with the highest score of 2,corneal opacity was observed with the highest score of 1;however,these symptoms returned to normal within 72 hours,with the score reduced to 0. No irritation to the skin of rabits was found after exposed to the pilatory for fourteen days,no skin sensitization was introduced by Buehler test and no skin phototoxicity on guinea pigs was detected. There was no abnormal growth of reverse mutation colonies induced by the pilatory under S9 acitivation or not. There was no statistically significant rise of chromosome aberration rate in the exposed CHL cells compared to the control groups（P>0.05）. Conclusion Under the condition,the herbal pilatory showed mild and reversible irritation to eyes,while no dermal toxicity and genetic toxicity were observed. The safety of the herbal pilatory for external use is acceptable.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEElastofibroma dorsi has an extremely low incidence. At present, comparative study on imaging manifestations and pathologic findings of elastofibroma dorsi has not been reported in China. This study was to investigate clinical manifestations, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances, and pathologic features of elastofibroma dorsi and to improve preoperative imaging diagnosis of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical manifestations, imaging findings, and pathologic appearances of 6 cases of elastofibroma dorsi were retrospectively analyzed and related literatures were reviewed. All patients were examined with MRI, and 4 of them were examined with CT scan.

RESULTSAll patients were above 30 years old without obvious symptoms. The tumors presented as a lenticular soft-tissue mass in the deep subscapular region. The tumor's density on plain CT scan or signal intensity on MR T1-weighted image was approximately equal to that of muscle with some interlaced fat-like areas within mass suppressed by fat-suppression MR sequences, which corresponded to dense collagen tissue and interspersed mature adipose tissue observed microscopically.

CONCLUSIONSCT and MRI can reflect the histological features of elastofibroma dorsi. On the basis of their imaging characteristics, a correct preoperative diagnosis of elastofibroma dorsi can easily be made.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scapula ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Air Conditioning ; Humans ; Legionella pneumophila ; isolation & purification ; RNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective method for controlling nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.

METHODSEighty-eight cases of hepatic cancer with interventional therapy of Cisplatin were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 44 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with an antiemetic and electroacupuncture at Yongquan (KI 1), and the control group only with the antiementic. The controlling rates for nausea and vomiting were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe controlling rates for acute nausea, vomiting and delayed vomiting in the treatment group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Yongquan (KI 1) can better prevent and improve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the patient with chemotherapy of Cisplatin.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Electroacupuncture ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; prevention & control ; Vomiting ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo determine the role of serine residues at position 63-84 of CITED1 in the nuclear translocation of CITED1 and osteoblast differentiation.

METHODSWe engineered all the 9 phosphorylated serine residues of CITED1 with a serine-to-alanine mutation at position 63-84. MC3T3E1 cells transfected with pCDNA3-CFP-CITED1 63-84 (9S>A), pCDNA3-CFP-CITED1, and vehicle plasmid were examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy before and after treatment with 100 nmol/L parathyroid hormone [PTH(1-34)] to observe the changes in the intracellular localization of CITED1. The transfected cells were induced for osteoblastic differentiation with mineralized solution in the absence or presence of 10 nmol/L PTH(1-34), and the changes in ALP activity and Ca(2+) concentration were measured; RT-PCR was used to detect the changes in ALP2, RUNX2, and OC gene expressions after the treatments.

RESULTSs PTH(1-34) promoted the nuclear translocation of CITED1 in MC3T3-E1 cells. The (63-84) 9S>A mutation of CITED1 obviously suppressed its translocation and increased ALP activity and Ca(2+) levels in the cells, which led to enhanced mineralization in the cells with also increased expressions of ALP2, RUNX2, and OC.

CONCLUSIONThe serine residues at position 63-84 of CITED1 play a vital role in the nuclear translocation of CITED1 and osteoblast differentiation.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Cell Nucleus ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Plasmids ; Serine ; metabolism ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of intermittent subcutaneous injections of signal-selective parathyroid hormone (PTH) peptide analog on fracture healing in orchiectomized mouse models.

METHODSThirty-six 7-week-old C57/BL male mice were orchiectomized and injected with hPTH(1-34), the signal-selective PTH peptide analog [Gly(1), Arg(19)]hPTH (1-34), or an identical volume of vehicle 1 week after induction of femoral fracture. At 14 and 28 days after the operation, the mice were sacrificed for measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the callus using by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The bone healing was evaluated by radiography, biomechanical testing, micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) and histological examination.

RESULTSAt 14 days after the operation, BMD in PTH peptide analog group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The mouse models treated with the PTH peptide analog showed significantly lower ultimate bending force and bending rigidity than those with hPTH(1-34) treatment. X-ray and Micro-CT scanning showed that callus transformation and remodeling was better in PTH peptide analog group than in the vehicle control group but poorer than in hPTH(1-34) group.

CONCLUSIONThe signaling-selective PTH peptide analog G1, R19 (1-28) can accelerate fracture healing in orchiectomized mouse models, in which process cAMP/PKA pathway plays an important role.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Fracture Healing ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Orchiectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; analysis ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; blood

The inflammatory response is involved in the pathogenesis of the most common types of heart disease.Sanguinarine (SAN) has various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,antibacterial,antitumor,and immune-enhancing properties.However,few studies have investigated the effects of SAN on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory and apoptotic responses in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.Therefore,in this study,H9c2 cells were co-treated with SAN and LPS,and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammation markers and the apoptosis rate were measured to clarify the effect of SAN on cardiac inflammation.The underlying mechanism was further investigated by detecting the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways.As a result,increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1 β,IL-6,and TNFα induced by LPS was attenuated after SAN treatment;LPS-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes and cleaved-caspase 8,9,3 were all significantly reduced by SAN.Further experiments showed that the beneficial effect of SAN on blocking the inflammation and apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes induced by LPS was associated with suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.It was suggested that SAN suppressed the LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes,which may be mediated by inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Thus,SAN may be a feasible therapy to treat sepsis patients with cardiac dysfunction.