Acute Kidney Injury ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Biomarkers ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective To evaluate the effect of transurethral feedback microwave thermotherapy with the ProstaLund CoreTherm Device (PLFT) in benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) patients with high risk factors 24 months after treatment.MethodsSixty-two BPH cases with high risk factors of aged ≥ 80or complicating severe conditions of no less than one organ or system,were treated with PLFT under urethral local anesthesia.The average pre-treatment prostate volume,international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life score (QOL) and maximal urinary flow (Qmax) were 62.03 ml,23.19,4.58 and 4.33 ml/s,respectively.The changes of prostate volume,IPSS,QOL and Qmax at 3 months,12 months and 24 months after treatment were analyzed.ResultsAll patients tolerated well of PLFT performed in common therapy room except lightly bleeding,minor infection and temporary incontinence.There was no severe surgical adverse event.After 3 months,the prostate volume reduced to 43.85 ml,IPSS decreased to 11.63,QOL decreased to 2.44,Qmax rose up to 11.44 ml/s； The average values were 45.10 ml,12.23,2.61 and 10.91ml/s at 12 months after treatment.The corresponding values were 45.80 ml,12.37,2.66 and 10.82 ml/s,respectively at 24 months after treatment.Compared with pre-treatment,all the parameters showed significant improvement ( P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsPLFT is one of the effective and safe treatment options for BPH patients with high risk factors.It can be safely used on day-surgery patients.The best effect appears at 3 months after treatment.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak/surgery* ; Drainage ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Suction

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) of low concentration on dynamic changes of intracellular free calcium contents ([Ca2+]i) in cultural rat liver oval cells (WB-F344 cells).

METHODSUsing Fluo-3/Am as fluorescent indicator of [Ca2+]i and it was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope system.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) A rapid transient spiking of [Ca2+]i occurred after the stimulation of H2O2 of low concentration (800 nmol/L). (2) The [Ca2+]i increase was abolished by pretreated with catalase (CAT) or by incubated in D-Hank's solution containing EGTA, the chelate of extracellular Ca2+. (3) The [Ca2+]i increase was not inhibited by pretreated nifedipine, Ca2+ channel blocker, but was abolished by pretreated with anthracere-9-cardoxylic acid (A9C), the Cl-channel blocker and which also blocked calcium activated non-selective cation channel (CAN).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the increase of [Ca2+]i induced by H2O2 of low concentration may be due to the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through CAN.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Ion Channels ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Rats

Objective To observe the histopathological features,nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and IKB expressions as well as calcium deposition of atherosclerosis plaques (AS) in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice (ApoE-/-, LDLR-/- fed high-fat diet.Methods Eight C57BL/6J mice fed with normal diet were used as control,32 ApoE-/- mice and LDLR -/- mice were divided into normal diet and high-fat diet groups ( n =8 each).After 4 months,aorta was collected for morphologic ( HE,Oil Red O,Von Kossa ) and immunohistochemistry ( nuclear factor-κB,IKB,macrophage surface molecule-3, α-smooth activor protein ) analysis.Results Degree of AS in ApoE -/ - and LDLR-/- mice fed with high-fat diet were significantly severer than those fed with normal diet and AS was more significant in ApoE-/- mice than in LDLR -/- mice.NFκB and IKB expressions in high-fat diet group were significantly higher than the normal diet group ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Double-labeling of NFκB revealed dominant expression in smooth muscle cells.Calcium deposition was significantly more in ApoE-/- mice fed with high-fat diet than mice fed with normal diet (P ＜0.05) and was similar in LDLR-/- mice fed with high and normal diet (P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion High-fat diet contributes to the formation of AS plagues in ApoE -/- and LDLR -/- mice joined by upregulated NFκB and IKB expressions and calcium deposition.

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of a second primary malignant tumor induced by previous radiotherapy.

METHODSFrom March 1970 to March 1997, 108 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients who developed a second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy were treated. There were squamous carcinoma 43 (39.8%), sarcoma 26 (24.1%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma 14 (13.0%), adenoid cystic carcinoma 12 (11.1%), thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma 8 (7.4%) and malignant melanoma 5 (4.6%). Fifty patients underwent operation, 32 received radiotherapy, 18 received chemotherapy and 8 received operation combined with chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe 3- and 5-year tumor-free survival rates were 64.0% and 36.0% in the operation group. They were 34.4% and 18.8% in the radiotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSurgery, if not contra-indicated, is the first choice for the second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy. Aggressive treatment for these patients is, hence, indicated clinically.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qingre Quyu Granule (清热祛瘀颗粒, QRQYG) on stabilizing vulnerable plaques in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficient mice.

METHODSSeventy-two male ApoE deficient mice were given a high-fat diet from 6 weeks of age. At the 16th week, all the mice were randomized into 3 groups: the QRQYG group, the simvastatin group, and the control group. Sixteen weeks after administration of 0.9 g/kg QRQYG, 3 mg/kg simvastatin or 10 mg/kg sodium chloride per day to the respective groups, the animals were euthanized. The pathological morphologic changes in the vulnerable plaques were evaluated, the matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) expression was measured by immunohistofluorescence, the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was determined by ELISA, the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) subunit p65 was measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and, finally, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was determined by the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe plaque cross-sectional area in the brachiocephalic artery (23.7%, P<0.01), the lipid core of the plaque (43.1%±3.1%), and the number of buried fibrotic caps of the plaque were significantly decreased in the QRQYG group compared to the control group (both P<0.01); furthermore, the thickness of the fibrotic cap of the plaque increased and the intra-plaque hemorrhage of the plaque decreased. The serum soluble ICAM-1 (27.1±5.1 μg/mL), the protein expression of MMP-9 and TSP-1 and the p65 mRNA expression increased in the QRQYG group in comparison with the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQRQYG could stabilize the vulnerable plaque through inhibition of the inflammatory response.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; Brachiocephalic Trunk ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Thrombospondin 1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the whole sequence of the SLC26A4 gene in moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) patients with IVS7-2A to G mutation of the gene in China.

METHODSWhole SLC26A4 gene sequence was analyzed by direct sequencing in 80 SLC26A4 gene IVS7-2A to G mutation carriers for the occurrence of a second mutation in the gene.

RESULTSForty-seven out of the 80 patients were found to have a second heterozygous mutation, whereas a single IVS7-2A to G mutation could be responsible for SNHL in the remaining 33 patients. Three novel mutations, 5+ 2T to A, 14-2A to G and 1825del G, were identified. The five most common mutations include H723R (20%), T410M(5%), C.1705+ 5G to A (15+ 5G to A)(5%), L676Q(5%), and N392Y (3.75%). Exon 17 harbored the most types of compound heterozygosity with the IVS7-2A to G mutation.

CONCLUSIONA Chinese specific SLC26A4 diversity was found, and comparable SLC26A4 contributing to deafness. This study suggested that if a heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation is found in a patient with deafness, other exons of the SLC26A4 gene should be analyzed. Furthermore, double heterozygosity of the SLC26A4 gene may also account for some of the disease phenotype.

Adolescent ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Rats ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the function of VEGF pathway in promoting angiogenesis with Xuefu Zhuyu Tang (XFZYT).

METHODSerum pharmacology technique was adopted to treat endothelial cells ECV304 with XFZYD containing serum and blank serum with concentrations of 1.25%, 2.5% and 5%. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, boyden chamber migration assay and in vitro vessel formation assay were used to test endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis capacities. ELISA, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect secretion and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2).

RESULTXFZYT-CS with a concentration of 1.25% only affected angiogenesis capacity in vitro. XFZYT-CS with a concentration of 2. 5% promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis capacities and significantly increased VEGF level and VEGF/VEGFR2 expressions. XFZYT-CS with a concentration of 5% only up-regulated intracellular VEGF expression and thereby improving endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONXFZYT can induce endothelial cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis by up-regulating VEGF-VEGFR2 pathway, which partially proves its angiogenesis effects.

Animals ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDXiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription recorded in a silk scroll unearthed from Mogao Caves of Dunhuang has been indicated that it can remit depressive disorder. The present study was designed to investigate its antidepressant effects in various animal depression models.

METHODSXiaobuxin-Tang was extracted by 70% alcohol, and then three behavioral despair models and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (HTP)-induced head twitch response model were adopted to assess the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang with the study on spontaneous motor activity. Groups of mice and rats received oral treatment with Xiaobuxin-Tang (150 - 1200 mg/kg) only once acutely in all tests. The duration of immobility was measured during the last 4 minutes of the 6-minutes test period in mice forced swimming test, rats forced swimming test and mice tail suspension test. In 5-HTP-induced head twitch response, the mice were intraperitoneally administered with 120 mg/kg of L-5-HTP, and then the cumulative number of head twitches was counted in 20 minutes. Spontaneous motor activities of mice were recorded automatically in 10 minutes by VIDEOMEX-V image analytic system.

RESULTSThe extract at doses of 300 mg/kg (p.o.) and 600 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in a dose dependent manner in mice forced swimming test; also, the extract at dose of 1200 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in rat forced swimming test. Furthermore, the extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg had the same effect in mice tail suspension test. Meanwhile, the extract at the effective doses for behavioral despair models, had no effect on spontaneous motor activity in mice. The extract (300 - 1200 mg/kg, p.o.) also increased the accumulative number of the 5-HTP-induced head twitch response in mice in 20 minutes.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang exerts antidepressant-like effect.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Depression ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Swimming