Aim To investigate the relationship be-tween the cardioprotection of apigenin ( Api ) from an-oxia/reoxygenation ( A/R) injury and Bcl-2 pathway. Methods H9 c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured and di-vided into normal control group, A/R group, Api pre-treatment group ( Api ) , Api + Bcl-2 inhibitor group ( Api + ABT-737 ) . Expression of Bcl-2 was deter-mined by Western blot,and cell viability was measured by MTT method. LDH, SOD, GSH-Px, MDA activity were determined by chromometry. ROS generation, mi-tochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were de-termined by flow cytometry. Results 25h after apige-nin precondition,the expression of Bcl-2 was upregulat-ed in cardiomyocytes ( P <0. 01 ) . In the group pre-treated with 40 μmol · L-1 apigenin before A/R, the activity of LDH in culture medium decreased; the ac-tivity of intracellular SOD, GSH-Px increased; the content of MDA and ROS generation decreased; cell viability increased; mitochondrial membrane potential could be more stable and cell apoptosis decreased ( P<0. 01 ) . However, all these protective effects were attenuated significantly in the group pretreated with apigenin and Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 . Conclusion The effect of apigenin against A/R injury in cardiomyo-cytes involves Bcl-2 pathway, and at least partly de-pends on its effect on upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 .

Objective To investigate the significance of androgen and estrogen receptor expression levels on aneurysm walls.Methods From November 2007 to June 2016,32 patients received craniotomy for clipping intracranial aneurysms in the West China Hospital,Sichuan University were enrolled prospectively.Nineteen intracranial aneurysm walls and 26 superficial temporal artery branches were obtained (a total of 45 qualified specimens).Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the superficial temporal artery branches and smooth muscle layer of intracranial aneurysm wall and the expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β and androgen receptors.Image Pro Plus 6.0 software was used to analyze and detect the integral optical density values of the positive cell expression levels.The χ2 test and rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results The median (M) and interquartile range (P25,P75) of the expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β of the intracranial aneurysm walls were 3 049 (2 112,5 554) and 4 364 (2 314,5 667) respectively.They were lower than 6 544 (3 507,10 103) and 6 972 (5 694,10 024) of the superficial temporal artery branches.The expression level of androgen receptor of aneurysm wall was 3 299 (1 375,4 895),it was higher than 1 130 (794,1 922) of the superficial temporal artery branches.There was significant difference between the two groups (all P<0.05).Conclusion The decreased expression levels of estrogen receptor-α,β and the increased expression level of androgen receptor in the cerebrovascular walls may promote the progress of intracranial aneurysms,however,the specific mechanism needs further study.

Objective To explore the clinical features, surgical techniques and treatment efficacy of blood blis?ter-like aneurysms (BBA) of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Method We retrospectively reviewed 45 BBAs of the ICA treated surgically at our department between Jan. 2006 and Jan. 2016. The data was analyzed. Results Direct clipping of BBA was performed in 38 patients, clipping over wrapping in 3 patients and trapping of ICA in 4 patients. Intraoperative rupture occurred in 12 patients (27%). Postoperative cerebral infarction developed in 10 cases (22%). Seven patients died (16%). During the follow-up time of 47 months (range, 6~126 months), Good results were achieved in 34 patients (76%) with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0~2 and 4 patients were in mRS 3~5. Follow-up angiography revealed a re?currence of BBA in one patient, which was retreated with endovascular coiling. No rebleeding was found in all fol?lowed-up patients. Conclusions BBAs of the ICA are difficult to treat surgically with high risk and complications. Thoughtful pre-operative evaluation of BBA and application of various surgical strategies during operation can signifi?cantly reduce the surgical risk and achieve good outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Guilu Erxianjiao (GLEXJ) in suppressing chemotherapy induced cell apoptosis in mice and to discuss its possible acting mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-two tumor-bearing Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, Group A, treated with normal saline; Group B treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX), Group C treated with Chinese herbal medicine, and Group D-F, the three combined treated group received CTX plus high, moderate and low dose GLEXJ. All mice were sacrificed after 9-day medication, their splenic tissues were taken for determining T-lymphocyte apoptosis with flow cytometer, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and Caspase-3mRNA detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, FITC+/PI- cell proportion of spleen T-lymphocyte cells and Caspase-3mRNA expression were higher, while bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower in Group B; as compared with Group B, the former two indexes were lower and the latter was higher in the three combined treated groups (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONGLEXJ could efficiently suppress the splenic T-lymphocyte apoptosis in tumor bearing mice undergoing chemotherapy, one of its mechanisms may be through up-regulating of bcl-2 mRNA expression and down-regulating of Caspase-3mRNA expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics, therapeutic methods and effects of blood blister-like aneurysms (BBA) of the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods: A total of 40 patients with BBAs of the ICA treated at Department of Neurosurgery of West China Hospital between January 2010 and January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 14 males and 26 females with the mean age of 44.7 years (ranging from 25 to 64 years). There were 38 patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and 2 patients were found incidentally with unruptured aneurysms in regular examination. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 patients, including direct clipping, clipping over wrapping and trapping. Endovascular treatment with single or multiple stents and coiling was performed in 18 patients. Clinical outcomes were assessed with modified Rankin Scale. The patients were followed up with CT angiography. Results: Direct clipping of BBA was performed in 18 patients, clipping over wrapping in 3 patients and trapping of ICA in 1 patient. Intraoperative rupture occurred in 5 patients. Postoperative cerebral infarction developed in 6 cases, 4 patients died. Single stent-assisted coiling was performed in 8 cases, and multiple stents with coiling in 10 patients. Procedure-related hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients, postoperative massive cerebral infarction developed in 1 patient with stent-assisted coiling. The follow-up time was 26.8 months (ranging from 6 to 72 months), among the patients with surgery, good results (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) were achieved in 16 patients; one patient was score 3, and the other was 4. In endovascular group, 15 patients had good results and one with mRS 4. Follow-up angiography revealed recurrence of BBA in 2 patients treated with stent and coiling, which was retreated with coiling. No recurrence was found in surgical group. Conclusions BBA of the supraclinoid ICA is a specific and complicated intracranial aneurysm with high risk and complications no matter the treatment is surgical or endovascular, take proper operation methods could achieve satisfactory results.

ORF3 and partial ORF1 regions were amplified with RT-PCR f rom two patients (T1 and T11)infected with new genotype of hepatitis E Virus. Th e PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The results showed that G-C rich regi on in ORF3 was deleted when amplified with normal PCR reaction. However, PCR rea ction containing G-C melt solution can overcome this problem. The sequence anal ysis showed that T1 and T11 belong to a new genotype of HEV which differs from g enotype I,II and III reported.T1 and T11 have 79%～82%, 80%～81% and 83%～85% id entical to genotype I,II and III respectively.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Liver ; cytology ; drug effects ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between serum resistin level, cardiovascular risk factors and severity of coronary disease in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSAfter evaluated by clinical history, electrocardiography, exercise tolerance tests, laboratory tests, and coronary angiography, 220 consecutive patients with suspected chest pain were divided into normal control group, stable angina pectoris (SAP) group, and ACS group, respectively. Baseline clinical characteristics, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, white blood cell count, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were compared among three groups. ELISA was used to detect serum resistin levels. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis was used to assess association between resistin and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to define the relationship between serum resistin level and SAP or ACS.

RESULTSSerum resistin level in ACS group (1.18+/-0.48 microg/L) was significantly higher than that in normal control and SAP groups (0.49+/-0.40 and 0.66+/-0.40 microg/L; P<0.01). Only in ACS group, increased serum resistin level was significantly correlated with hsCRP (r=0.262, P=0.004) and white blood cell count (r=0.347, P=0.001). Furthermore, serum resistin levels showed a stepwise increase with the number increase of > 50% stenosed coronary vessels. Multinomial logistic regression test demonstrated that serum resistin was a strong risk factor for ACS (OR=29.132, 95 % CI: 10.939-77.581, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggested the potential role of resistin in atherosclerosis and especially its involvement in ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Resistin ; blood ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the better treatment for the third lumbar transverse process syndrome.

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into an acupotomy group, a blood pricking group and a combined therapy group, thirty cases in each group. In acupotomy group, three points such as the third lumbar transverse process point were released with acupotomy, and then Tuina was applied. In blood pricking group, blood pricking therapy was applied at Qihaishu (BL 24) or Weizhong (BL 40). In combined therapy group, both of releasing with acupotomy and blood pricking were applied. The therapeutic effects of three groups were evaluated by of simplified Chinese version of the Oswestry Disability Index (SCODI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) before, immediately after treatment and 1 week after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, compared with scores sofore treatment, VAS scores were all reduced (both P < 0.05), and it in combined therapy group was lower than those in other groups (both P < 0.05); SCODI scores showed no significant differences in groups (both P > 0.05) except in combined therapy group (P<0. 05). One week after treatment, compared with scores immediately after treatment, SCODI scores and VAS scores were reduced in each group (all P < 0.05), and the scores in combined therapy group were lower than those in other two groups (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONReleasing with acupotomy and blood pricking are the effective therapies for the third lumbar transverse process syndrome, can remarkably relieve the pain and improve movement function of lumbus, and the therapeutic effect is more obvious.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Spinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of compound Salvia injection (CSI) on blood coagulatory function in patients with traumatic cerebral infarction (TCI).

METHODSSixty-four patients with TCI were randomly divided into two groups, 32 in each group. The treated group were treated with CSI plus conventional treatment of western medicine, and the control group treated with conventional treatment alone. Changes of symptoms, levels of plasma P-selectin (P-S), von Willebrand's factor (vWf) and D-dimer were observed with ELISA.

RESULTSThe treated group was superior to the control group in Glasgow outcome scale (P < 0.01). Before treatment, the levels of plasma P-S, vWf and D-dimer in the TCI patients were higher than those in healthy people. After treatment, all the parameters lowered in both groups, but the effect of lowering was greater in the treated group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONBlood coagulation disorder exists in patients with TCI, CSI could improve it, and might alleviate the cerebral damage to a certain extent.

Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism