BACKGROUND: The biliary stents commonly used in clinic are made of plastics and metal, both of which have some irresolvable defects. New type of material characterizing by great biocompatibility and degradation for the making of biliary stents needs to be found and studied.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biodegradation law and the change in radical force of five different mole-ratios of biliary stents made of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in human bile in vitro.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A Completely random design was performed at the Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University between July and December 2006.MATERIALS: Five different mole-ratios of PLGA hiliary stents (90L/10G, 80L/20G, 70L/30G, 60L/40G, and 50L/50G) were provided by Dalgang Biological Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan; Human fresh bile was obtained from the patients who underwent external drainage of bile in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University.METHODS: Thirty-two PLGA biliary stents of each proportion were respectively divided into eight groups, with four stents in each group. All of them were independently submerged into test tubes with 10 mL fresh human bile which were then placed in constant temperature oscillator. The temperature was set at 37 ℃. The bile was changed every day. After incubated for one week to eight weeks, the PLGA biliary stents were respectively taken out of test tubes from the first to the eighth group each week. They were washed with distilled water and dried in calorstat for 24 hours.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Gross morphology, color and integrality of PLGA stents; ② Scanning electron microscope; ③ the mass and the radical force of PLGA stents.RESULTS: ① Five different mole-ratios of PLGA stents followed a similar changing law as to gross morphology: stents remained intact → stents became soft → the surface ofstents became coarse and cracked → stents collapsed → stents were degraded into pieces → stents were completely degraded. ② Before degradation: limpid stereo reticular structure of PLGA; One week after degradation: PLGA was corroded and the reticular structure was decreased; Three weeks after degradation: airspace was gradually disappeared and the reticular structure was further decreased; Five weeks after degradation: airspace and the reticular structure were completely damaged, which was in an indefinite form. ③ The mass loss of each proportion of PLGA stents gradually speeded up along with the time extension. Furthermore, with the content of PGA increasing, the mass loss of the stents became faster. The initial radical force was different among five different mole-ratios of hiliary stents. With the content of PLA increasing, the radical force of the stents became stronger.CONCLUSION: The material of PLGA possesses adjustable biodegradation and good mechanical feature, so it is suitable for preparation of biliary stents.

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is an important metabolism regulator, however, whether FGF-21 has effects on cardiovascular remains unclear. In this study, H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells was used as a cell model, the anti-apoptosis potential and mechanism of FGF-21 against oxidative injury were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry assay and real-time PCR. The results showed that FGF-21 could increase the cell survival of H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells and prevent H9c2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, FGF-21 can elevate SOD activity and regulate Bcl-2/Bax expression in H9c2 cells. The results suggest that FGF-21 have protective effect against the H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective It is well known that diethylstilbestrol ( DES ) can result in testicular oxidative injury , and one of its mechanisms of action is leading to dysfunction of steroidogenesis .The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between testicular oxidative injury caused by DES and the key synthetase activities for the synthesis pathway of steroidogenesis and the possible mechanism .Methods Twenty-four 4-wk-old male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups , 6 rats each.Three doses of DES (0.1, 1.0 and 10 μg/kg· d) groups and a vehicle (corn oil) control group , were respectively administered by subcutaneous injection once a day for eight weeks .The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks treatment and the body weight , testis, epididymis, prostate were weighed, respectively.The testicular tissues were homogenized and the oxidation of MDA and ROS , the activity changes of antioxidases SOD, CAT and GPx, as well asthe activities of steroid synthetases 3β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 were determined by biochemical measurement.The levels oftestosterone and LH in peripheral blood were measured by radioimmunoassay .The intensities of expression of StAR,P450scc, 3β-HSD1, 17β-HSD3-mRNA were detected by PCR.Results In the 10.0 μg/kg dose group, the weights andorgan coefficients of testis and prostate were decreased significantly , the oxidation of MDA and ROS was increased distinctlyand the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, 3β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 were reduced.The concentration of serum testosterone wasdecreased in the 10.0 μg/kg dose group.In the 10.0 μg/kg and 1.0 μg/kg dose groups, the decline of LH levelpresented a dose-dependent manner, and the intensities of immunochemical positive staining for StAR , P450scc, 3β-HSD1and 17β-HSD3 mRNA were decreased.Conclusions DES exposure results in disturbance of the oxidant /antioxidantbalance and decline of testosterone level that induces reproductive impairment in male rats .DES induces reductions of bothGPx and 3β-HSD activities which cause the decrease of testosterone synthesis .The expression of P450scc and 3β-HSDmRNA,which are the key synthetases in biosynthetic pathway of steroidogenesis , are inhibited by DES, and it isspeculated that the disturbance of steroidogenic synthesis enzymes may be one of the mechanisms of toxic effects of DES .

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of valproic acid sodium (VPA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells. Jurkat cells were treated with different concentration of VPA. Proliferation-inhibition curve was assayed and plotted by CCK-8 method and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The expression level of anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 and pro-apoptosis gene Bak1 were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the VPA inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in concentration-dependent manner. As compared with the control group, the apoptosis of cells increased along with adding concentration of VPA; VPA could decrease the expression of BCL-2 gene, but did not show obvious effect on the expression of Bak1. It is concluded that the VPA can inhibit proliferation of Jurkat cells which possibly associates with the decrease of BCL-2 expression.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of Panax notoginsenosides monomers ginsenoside Rg 1 in inhibiting hepatic fibro-sis .Methods The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by using 50% Ccl4 ,total 35 d .The different doses of Rg1was ad-ministered by hypodermical injection .At the end of the treatment ,the pathological changes of hepatic tissue were observed by light and transmission electron microscope .The stereological method was adopted to measure the volume density (Vvm) ,area density (Svm) ,specific surface(Qm) and surface number density (Nam) of liver cell mitochondria in various groups .Results The stereo-logical data of liver cell mitochondria showed that the statistical differences existed among various groups .Vvm in the Panax Notog-insenosides ,low dose Rg1 and isotonic saline groups were significantly increased compared with the normal control group with sta-tistical difference(P<0 .01);Vvm in the high dose Rg1 ,middle dose Rg1 and colchicine groups showed the increasing trend com-pared with the normal control group without statistical difference (P>0 .05);Vvm in the high ,middle and low dose Rg1 ,Panax No-toginsenosides and colchicine groups showed the decreasing trend compared with the isotonic saline group without statistical differ-ence(P>0 .05) .Svm in the low dose Rg1 ,Panax Notoginsenosides ,colchicine and isotonic saline groups were significantly increased compared with the normal group with statistical difference (P<0 .01);Svm in the high dose Rg1 ,middle dose Rg1 ,Panax Notogin-senosides and colchicine groups was significantly induced compared with the isotonic saline group with statistical difference (P<0 .01);Svm in the high dose Rg1 was reduced compared with the middle dose Rg1 group(P<0 .05) .Nam in the low dose Rg1 ,col-chicine and isotonic saline group was significantly increased compared with the normal group (P<0 .01);Nam in the high dose Rg1 , middle dose Rg1 and Panax Notoginsenosides groups were significantly reduced compared with the isotonic saline group with statis-tical difference(P<0 .01);Nam in the high dose Rg1 group was reduced compared with the middle dose Rg 1 group with statistical difference (P<0 .05) .Qm in all groups was reduced compared with normal group without statistical difference (P>0 .05) .Conclu-sion Rg1 has antifibrosis effects of Panax notoginsenosides ,even exceeds Panax notoginsenosides in some aspects ,and the above-mentioned effect is positively correlated with dose .Rg1 is an ideal drug for preventing and treating liver fibrosis .

Objective To observe the effect of limited laminectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression on preventing C5nerve root palsy and improving neurological function. Methods From March,2014 to May,2016,69 patients with multi-segment cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent surgical treatment in our hospital were included.Thirty-eight patients(group A)were treated with limited lami-nectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression and internal fixation,and 31 patients(group B)under-went routine laminectomy and internal fixation.The postoperative neurological recovery rate,cervical curvature index(CCI)and C5palsy rate were recorded and analyzed. Results No spinal cord and nerve injury occurred during the operation.The width of laminectomy was(16.8±2.1)mm in group A,and was significantly less than(21.7±2.5)mm in group B(t=8.849,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between two groups(t<0.439,P>0.05).The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score increased continuously after surgery in both groups (F>42.996, P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between them at each time point(t<1.021,P>0.05).The cervical curva-ture index improved after surgery(F>86.379,P<0.05),and no significant difference was found between them at each time point(t<0.943,P>0.05).The spinal cord drift distance was(3.6±0.7)mm in group A,and ws signifi-cantly shorter than(2.5±0.5)mm in group B(t=7.602,P<0.001).There was no significantly difference in the neu-rological recovery rate between two groups(t=0.724,P=0.471).The C5palsy rate was lower in group A(5.2%,2/38)than in group B(22.5%,7/31)(χ2=4.514,P=0.034). Conclusion Limited laminectomy combined with foraminal stenosis decompression could relieve the spinal cord com-pression and restrict the excessive back drift, promote the neurological function recovery and reduce the inci-dence of C5palsy.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in the migration of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) in asthmatic rats with airway remodeling and the effect of NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 on the migration of ASMC.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into two groups: airway remodeling induced by asthma and normal control. ASMC from rats with asthma and airway remodeling induced by ovalbumin (OVA) inhalation for 8 weeks were primary cultured and purified. Immunofluorescence and real-time PCR were used to measure the expression of NK-1R. With NK-1R inhibitor WIN62577 treatment, the changes in the migration of ASMC were measured by transwell chambers.

RESULTSNK-1R in ASMC was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm and cell membrane in the airway remodeling group, and the mRNA expression of NK-1R was higher than the normal control group (P<0.01). The number of the migrated ASMC in the airway remodeling group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.01). Various concentrations (10-11 mol/L, 10-10 mol/L, 10-9 mol/L and 10-8 mol/L) of WIN62577 treatment decreased the number of the migrated ASMC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNK-1R may affect airway remodeling possibly through promoting the migration ability of ASMC in rats with asthma.

Airway Remodeling ; drug effects ; Androstenes ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Asthma ; pathology ; Benzimidazoles ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Female ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate effect and mechanism of vasonatrin peptide (VNP) on Ca2+ activated K+ channels (K(Ca)) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat mesentery arteries.

METHODSChanges of K(Ca) induced by VNP were measured by the means of whole cell recording mode of patch clamp, furthermore effects of HS-142-1(0.3 g/L), 8-Br-cGMP and methylene blue (MB) were observed.

RESULTSK(Ca) was significantly enhanced by VNP (10(-6) mol/L), which was mimicked by 8-Br-cGMP(10(-3) mol/L) and blocked completely by HS-142-1 or MB (2 x 10(-5) mol/L).

CONCLUSIONVNP increases K(Ca) of VSMCs isolated from rat mesenteric arteries, by binding with natriuretic peptide guanylate cyclase-coupled receptors and increasing the intracellular level of cGMP in VSMCs.

Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; physiology ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To survey the status general practice residency training and career choice of trainees in Henan Province.Methods:From December 2017 to February 2018, 332 trainees from the first general practice residency training program (2014-2017) were enrolled in the study. The self- administered questionnaire included the demographic information and the current career status. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of the career choice when their completed the training.Results:Of 332 participants, there were 167 participants designated by the institutions and the others were directly enrolled by the program. The designated participants were from the 56 medical institutions in Henan. The percentage of participants from the tertiary hospitals was 75.5% (126/167), which was much higher than that from the secondary hospitals (24.5%,41/167). There were 24 participants who did not have a work six months after graduation. Of the 308 employed participants, there were only 111 (36.0%, 111/308) working in the department of general practice, and 197 (64.0%, 197/308) working in other departments. The participants designated by the institutions and with the post-graduate degrees preferred to choose other specialties, instead of the general practice. The reasons were that there was no department of general practice in their institutions or the participants had been designated to the other departments (57.9%, 114/197).Conclusion:The survey suggests that the general practice residency training program should enroll trainees mainly from the medical graduates in order to improve the effectiveness of general practitioner residency training and the allocation of health resources in Henan Province.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bronchiolitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged