The disruption of the intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis has been reported to be one of the mechanisms of beta-amyloid (Abeta) neurotoxicity in Alzheimeros disease (AD). Abeta(31-35), a small active fragment of Abeta, is believed to possess the similar biological activities of full-length Abeta molecule. Humanin (HN) is a recently identified peptide that suppresses neuronal death initiated by AD-related insults. The present study was to investigate the effects of HN on Abeta(31-35)-induced elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in cultured cortical neurons by real-time fluorescence imaging technique using the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye, Fura-2/AM. The elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) was observed in cultured neurons exposed to Abeta(31-35) (25 mumol/L) (F340/F380: 1 042.56+/- 83.54, compared with control group: 804.73+/- 48.230, P<0.05, n=10). Pretreatment of HN (10 mumol/L) for 10 min significantly decreased the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by Abeta(31-35) (25 mumol/L) (F340/F380: 918.788+/- 50.73, compared with Abeta(31-35) group, P<0.05, n=10). When neurons were treated with HN and Abeta(31-35) simultaneously, HN (10 mumol/L) could not change the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by Abeta(31-35) (F340/F380: 1 036.68+/- 88.96, compared with Abeta(31-35) group, P>0.05, n=10), while HN (20 mumol/L) diminished the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by Abeta(31-35) (25 mumol/L) significantly (F340/F380: 898.56+/- 76.46, compared with Abeta(31-35) group, P<0.05, n=10). The findings imply that: (1) the disruption of the calcium homeostasis induced by Abeta(31-35) is possibly the basis of the neurotoxicity of Abeta(31-35) in cultured cortical neurons; (2) HN suppresses the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) induced by Abeta(31-35) in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
Amyloid beta-Peptides ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Death ; Cells, Cultured ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology

To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of compound Danshen injection in treating hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) of newborns. Computer retrievals were made in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP and China info (before May 2014) and relevant literature references, and manual retrievals were made for journals and conference papers, in order to collect randomized or semi-randomized controlled trials concerning compound Danshen injection in the treatment of neonatal HIE. The quality of included references was evaluated according to literatures recommended by Cochrane Handbook. RevMan 5. 3 software was applied in the statistical treatment. Finally, a total of 13 randomized controlled trials were included, covering 1,211 patients (including 639 patients in the compound Danshen injection-treated group and 572 patients in the control group). Meta-analysis results showed that the routine treatment combined with compound Danshen injection can improve the treatment efficiency of neonatal HIE [RR = 1.28; 95% CI (1.21-1.36)], reduce the mortality rate [RR = 0.42; 95% CI (0.23-0.75)] and the incidence of long-term neurological sequelae [RR = 0.48; 95% CI (0.35-0.65)], with statistical differences. No fatal side effect was observed in all of included trials. So far, limited evidences in this study proved that the application of compound Danshen injection in the treatment of neonatal HIE can enhance the clinical efficiency. However, because of the low quality of the included trials, more well-designed and large-scale multi-center randomized controlled trials shall be made in the future.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; drug therapy ; Injections ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Objective To analyze the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens for bacterial infection after lung transplantation,so as to provide evidence for clinical prophylactic strategies postoperation and reasonable use of antibiotics.Method The bacterial distribution and drug resistance of 81 recipients after lung transplantation in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed from May 2009 to October 2012.The VITEK-32 full-automatic microbial identification system (Biomerieux,France)and its supplementary reagent were used for bacterial identification and drug sensitive test.The data were statistically analyzed by using the software SPSS 13.0.Result There were 67 cases of bacterial infection in the 81 recipients after lung transplantation and the infection rate was 82.72％ (67/81).The infection was caused by one kind of bacteria in 20 patients,two kinds of bacteria in 23 patients and multiple bacteria in 24 patients.157 strains pathogenic bacteria were produced,and the grampositive bacilli and the gram-negative bacilli accounted for 12.74％ and 87.26％ respectively.The most common pathogens for the bacterial infection were Acinetobacter baumannii,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Stenotrophomonasmaltophilia,Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.Most of the bacterial infections occurred in the early period (≤1 month) after lung transplantation and most non-fermentative bacterial pathogens were resistant to multi-antibiotics.Conclusion The bacterial infection rate is high after lung transplantation.The rational use of antibiotics in clinical practice should be adjusted according to the bacterial distribution and drug resistance.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of humanin (HN) on primary cortical neuronal apoptosis induced by Abeta31-35, and explore the potential mechanisms. Cultured cortical neurons were pretreated with different concentrations of HN (5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for different time period (0, 8 and 16 h) respectively, and then exposed to Abeta31-35 (25 micromol/L) for additional 24 h and the neuronal apoptosis was examined by morphological analysis, flow cytometric assays and TUNEL staining. Caspase activities were measured using a spectrophotometer. Bax expression was measured by Western blot. The results were as follows. (1) Pretreatment with HN (20 micromol/L) for 16 h significantly prevented Abeta31-35-induced apoptosis in cortical neurons; (2) HN significantly decreased Abeta31-35-induced elevation of caspase-3 and -9 activities; (3) HN suppressed Abeta31-35-induced translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria, but had no effect on overall Bax expression. In conclusions, HN attenuated Abeta31-35-induced cortical neuronal apoptosis by blocking intrinsic caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways.
Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; pathology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To study the association between the rs2013162 and rs2235375 polymorphisms in IRF6 and risk of NSCL/P in west Chinese population. Methods: The study group consisted of 332 NSCL/P patients, their parents (289 mothers, 243 fathers and 206 complete families), and 174 controls. PCR-RFLP method was used to identify genotypes and both case-parent and case-control designs were carried out on samples from west China. Results: There were significant differences in the frequency distributions of both genotypes and alleles when cases were compared with control infants at the rs2235375(P<0.01, P<0.01 respectively). We found strong evidence of over-transmission of the G allele at rs2235375 in cleft case-parent trios(P<0.01). Five specific haplotypes showed significant over-and under-transmission. Conclusion: These results suggest IRF6 variants play a role in NSCL/P in west Chinese populations.

Objective To study on the effects of Huaweishu granule on cisplatin-induced Beagle dog vomiting models and its mechanism.Methods Cisplatin-induced Beagle dog vomiting models were adopted as research object.The changes of vomiting frequency,latency,serum motilin content in the medulla oblongata and ileum,5-HT and substance P content of these models after using Hua weishu Granule were observed.Results ① Latent period of vomiting of the model group was (60.8±37.1)min; while this period was (137.3± 53.4)min,(122.8 ± 50.7) min,(l16.8±44.6)min,in the Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group respectively,all showing a statistic difference than the model group (P＜0.05).②Frequency of vomiting in the model group was (270.3±51.8),while this frequence was (111.5±45.0) and (149.5±26.8) in Huawei-shu low and medium dose group respectively; ③ serum motilin in the model group was (0.354±0.098)ng/ml,while serum motilin in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (0.230±0.074) ng/ml,(0.235± 0.071) ng/ml,and (0.245± 0.062)ng/ml respectively,all lower than the model group (P＜ 0.05).④ Medulla oblongata 5-HT in the model group was (2.028 ±0.198)ng/ml,while medulla oblongata 5-HT in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (1.620±0.329)ng/ml,(1.194±0.386)ng/ml,and (1.269 ± 0.251) ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group (P＜0.05); ileum 5-HT in the model group was (1.634± 0.221)ng/ml,while ileum 5-HT in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (1.108±0.291)ng/ml,(1.194±0.386)ng/ml,and (1.269 ± 0.251) ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group(P＜0.05) ;⑤ ileal substance P content of the model group was (0.356±0.063)ng/ml,while ildeal P content in Huawei-shu low dose group was (0.274±0.064)ng/ml,lower than the model group than(P＜0.05).The medullary substance P content was (0.432±0.021)ng/ml in the model group,while medullary P content in Huawei-shu low,medium and high dose group was (0.370±0.040) ng/ml,(0.385±0.029) ng/ml,and (0.386± 0.041)ng/ml respectively,all were lower than the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Huawei-shu granule can prevent cisplatin-induced Beagle vomiting.

Zanthoxyli Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, muscle and bone pain, fall fracture, hernia, sore throat, toothache and other diseases. Due to possessing many excellent and mild pharmacological properties, there are lots of reports about Zanthoxyli Radix worldwide. At present, more than 100 bioactive components have been extracted and purified from Zanthoxyli Radix. Nitidine chloride (NC), one of the most important alkaloids in Zanthoxyli Radix, has the activities of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, etc. In this review, we summarize the chemical components of Zanthoxyli Radix, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of NC to provide references for further research and utilization of Zanthoxyli Radix.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; G1 Phase ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of seedling and fertilizer on yield and quality of cultivated Changium smyrnioides and build a basis for its GAP.

METHODExperiments were conducted to study the effects of seedling quality and different fertilizering measures on yield and quality of cultivated C. smyrnioides.

RESULTThe seedling and fertilizering depth affected the yield of roots obviously. Organic fertilizer combined with nitrogen and phosphorus could increase the amylose content obviously.

CONCLUSIONIn cultivation, the seedling (root length > 5.0 cm, root diameter > 0.3 cm, fresh root weight > 0.3 g) is optimal. The ideal combination is nitrogen, phosphorus and organic fertilizer. The suggested fertilizering depth ranged from 10 to 15 cm.

Amylose ; analysis ; metabolism ; Apiaceae ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Fertilizers ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo review the experience with the hybrid operations for patients with thoracoabdominal aortic diseases, as well as to evaluate and discuss the outcomes.

METHODSBetween June 2008 and September 2011, 11 patients (9 male and 2 female, mean age 52 years) were treated by hybrid operation. Hybrid operation includes debranching of the visceral arteries, followed by endovascular repair of the diseases (include aneurysmal disease, aortic dissection, or Takayasu's arteritis).

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. The mean operating time was 8.5 hours for patients done in one stage and 8.1 hours for the first stage of patient related in two stages. The endovascular stage took on average 2.0 hours. Overall mortality rate was 1/11 and morbidity was 4/11. No aneurysm-related death occurred. Two patients developed endoleak. Permanent paraplegia and renal failure rate was 0. Mean follow-up was 13.5 months.

CONCLUSIONHybrid operation is a mini invasive and safe method for thoracoabdominal aortic diseases with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Diseases ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; methods