AIM To study the mRNA expression of histamine H_1 receptor in hepatocarcinoma of rats. METHODS Dimethylamino-azobenzene (DAB) was used to induce hepatocarcinoma in rats. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was adopted to analyse the relative expression of histamine H_1 receptor. And the base sequence of its PCR product was detected. RESULTS The relative mRNA expression of histamine H_1 receptor was significantly decreased in hepatic carcinoma tissue, compared with that part far from cancer and control group (P

Objective To investigate the levels of serum interleukin(IL)-18 in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF)and its relationship with relevant indexes. Methods Sixty patients with CRF were divided into three groups: patients with CRF (CRF group, n = 18) ,patients with bemedialysis (HD group, n = 22) and patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD group,n = 20). 20 healthy subjects were taken as controls. The levels of serum IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected by means of ELISA. Serum albumin (ALB) ,total cholesterol (TC) ,triglyceride (TG) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were detected by con-ventional means. The GFR was measured by using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study (MDRD) equation. Differences in continuous variables between the three groups were evaluated. Results The lev-els of serum IL-18 were significantly increased in CRF[(497.7 ± 120.7) ng/L], HD[(538.1 ± 113.2) ng/L] and PD[(565.7 ± 122.1) ng/L] patients than those in healthy subjects[(163.9±42.2) ng/L] (P <0.01). Further-more,serum IL-18 levels in HD patients were higher than these in CRF patients (P <0.05). Serum IL-18 levels in CRF were positively related to serum TNF-α,hs-CRP and SCr(r =0. 636,0.436,0.367,P <0.01) ,and negatively related to GFR(r = -0.515 ,P <0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum IL-18 are markedly increased in patients with CRF,HD and PD,and related to the levels of TNF-α,hs-CRP and GFR,so IL-18 might be an important marker of sub-clinical inflammation in patients with chronic renal failure.

AIM: To study the effects of [8-(diethylamino) octyl-3, 4, 5 -trimethoxybenzoate] (TMB-8), an intracellular Ca2+ antagonist, on the activation, proliferation and cell-cycle distribution of the mouse T lymphocytes stimulated by concanvalin A (Con A) in vitro. METHODS: After stimulated with Con A, T cells were treated with different concentrations of TMB-8 alone and its combination with cyclosporine A (CsA). The expression of CD69, the early marker of CD3+ T cell activation, was measured by FACS. The proliferation-related index was determined by carboxyl fluorescin diacetate succinmidyl ester (CFDA-SE) flow cytometry. The cell-cycle distribution was analyzed by propidium iodide staining.RESULTS: After 6 h culture, the activation rate of CD69+ T cell in Con A group was (74.88?1.88)%. 10, 20 and 40 ?mol/L of TMB-8 inhibited the expression of CD69 (P

Objective To investigate the T cell cytotoxicity induced by recombinant adenovirus carrying HIV-1 vpr gene.Methods C8166 cells infected with rAd-vpr or negative control rAd-vector,were analyzed for cell cycle distribution and cell death by flow cytometry.The discrimination of living cells,apoptotic and necrotic cells were differentiated with Hoechst-PI double staining under the confocal microscopy.Changes of mitochondrial membrane potential(△ψm)were monitored by JC-1 staining method.Results Annexin V-PI and Hoechst-PI staining indicated the death effects of HIV-1 Vpr on C8166 cells.PI flow cytometric analysis showed that cell cycle arrested in G2 phase.C8166 cell△ψm collapse mediated by Vpr was detected by JC-1 fluorescent staining.Conclusion The ability of recombinant adenovirus carrying HIV-1 vpr gene to induce mitochondria dysfunction,cell cycle G2 phase arrest and cell death was confirmed in C8166 cells.

Objective Cervical radiculopathy treatment experts' consensus to establish radiculopathy type by using the modified Delphi method. Methods Use document retrieval method to review information and articles about the treatment guidelines and articles of cervical radiculopathy including domestic and international areas, established a protocol about clini?cal consensus of the treatments for cervical radiculopathy. This protocol included 23 questions (the effective proportion of non?operating therapy, neck immobilization, physiotherapy, pharmacologic treatment, surgical indications, contraindications, anteri?or surgical decompression, anterior surgical implants). We performed a modified Delphi survey in which current professional opinions from experienced experts, representing from almost all of the Chinese provinces, were gathered. And then we modi?fied the protocol according to those professional opinions. Three rounds were performed and finally we established consensus. Consensus was achieved with ≥70% agreement. Results The panel included 30 experienced experts. The recycling question?naire's quantity of three rounds were 30(100%), 24(80%) and 16(53.3%) respectively. After three expert assessments, there were 18 questions which achieved with≥70%agreement and these questions accounted for 64.3%(18/28) of all the questions. Consen?sus of the treatments for cervical radiculopathy was reached on 7 aspects, including:the effective proportion of non?operating thera?py (1 question), neck immobilization (1 question), physiotherapy (1 question), pharmacologic treatment (5 questions), surgical indi?cations (3 questions), contraindications (4 questions), surgery (3 questions). Conclusion This modified Delphi study had reached a consensus concerning several treatment issues on cervical radiculopathy which had strong representativeness of experts and good convergence of opinions. In the absence of high?level evidence, at present, these experts' opinion findings will guide health care providers to define appropriate treatment in their regions. Areas with no consensus provide excellent insight for future research.

Aiming at building research disciplines,Xijing hospital has initially achieved a strategic transformation into a hospital with research disciplines,with such measures as scientific layout of disciplines,making of advantageous disciplines with overseas benchmarks,encouragement of potential disciplines with advantageous disciplines,promotion of medical innovation with innovative ideas,and upgrading clinical service quality with technical innovation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Xinkeshu Tablet (XKS) on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty patients with their diagnosis of CHD confirmed by coronary angiography were randomized into two groups equally. Besides the conventional treatment for CHD, XKS and Metoprolol were given respectively to patients in the treated group and the control group for 8 weeks. Symptoms and 24 h dynamic ECG were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSEpisode of angina pectoris decreased obviously in both groups after treatment, from 8.8 +/- 3.2 times per week (the same hereafter) to 4.4 +/- 2.1 in the treated group (P<0.05), and from 8.4 +/- 3.1 to 3.9 +/- 2.0 in the control group (P <0.05). HRV analysis showed that after treatment the average heart rate lowered from 85.44 +/- 2.89 beat/min to 77.32 +/- 2.17 beat/min in the treated group and from 83.80 +/- 4.30 beat/min to 76.70 +/- 2.93 beat/min in the control group (both P < 0.05), showing no significant difference in extent of lowering between groups (P > 0.05). The time-domain indexes elevated in both groups, showing no statistical difference between groups (P >0.05). As for the frequency-domain indexes, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and total power raised, while LF/HF and very low frequency lowered in both groups, but the changes were more significant in the treated group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONXKS could improve HRV in patients of CHD and reduce the episode of angina pectoris in them.

Cardiovascular Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; Depression, Chemical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans

Ursolic acid (UA) is a sort of pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid purified from natural plant. UA has a series of biological effects such as sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, antiulcer, etc. It is discovered that UA has a broad-spectrum anti-tumor effect in recent years, which has attracted more and more scholars' attention. This review explained anti-tumor actions of UA, including (1) the protection of cells' DNA from different damages; (2) the anti-tumor cell proliferation by the inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor/mitogen-activated protein kinase signal or of FoxM1 transcription factors, respectively; (3) antiangiogenesis, (4) the immunological surveillance to tumors; (5) the inhibition of tumor cell migration and invasion; (6) the effect of UA on caspase, cytochromes C, nuclear factor kappa B, cyclooxygenase, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or mammalian target of rapamycin signal to induce tumor cell apoptosis respectively, and etc. Moreover, UA has selective toxicity to tumor cells, basically no effect on normal cells. With further studies, UA would be one of the potential anti-tumor agents.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunologic Surveillance ; drug effects ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; transmission ; China ; HIV Infections ; transmission ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the design, procedures and effect of latissimus dorsi-myocutaneous flap (LDMF) for breast reconstruction.

METHODSFrom May, 2005 to April, 2006, 18 consecutive patients underwent breast reconstruction with LDMF. Combined breast implants were also inserted in 8 of the 18 cases. The procedure duration, complication and aesthetic results were assessed.

RESULTSThe mean procedure duration was 147 minutes. There was no flap loss and no severe complications. The reconstructed breast was a little over high in one patient. All the other 17 patients (94.4%) were very satisfied with the aesthetic result.

CONCLUSIONSLDMF or a combination of LDMF with breast implants is a reliable method for breast reconstruction with low complication. The procedure is easily performed with good aesthetic result.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps