OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lexical tone perception and quality of life of Nurotron cochlear implant users. METHOD: Forty-nine adult cochlear implant users participated in this study. Mandarin tone identification test developed by Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology was used to evaluate the tone perception. Nijmegen cochlear im plantation questionnaire (NCIQ) was administered to quantify the quality of life. RESULT: (1) The average scores of tone perception in quiet was 67.26%. The tone perception rates under quiet condition for all cochlear implant recipients were higher than the opportunity level. (2) The average scores of tone perception under noisy condition was 51.92%. Exc ept for two recipients, the tone perception rates under noise condition for the rest recipients were better than chance. (3) The confusion patterns of tone recognition showed that Tone 3 was the easiest tone to perceive. (4) The postimplant scores for the total , basic sound perception, advanced sound perception, speech pro duction, self-esteem, activity and social interactions of NCIQ were 55.4, 72.4, 54.0, 63.4, 50.7, 47.3 and 44.7, respectively. CONCLUSION The Nurotron cochlear implant users had the ability for lexical tone perception and had an improvement in quality of life after cochlear implantation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Speech Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate of the value of monitoring of saturation of blood oxygen of the injured extremity on prevention of osteofascial compartmental syndrome.

METHODSTwenty patients of osteofascial compartmental syndrome included 13 male and 7 female with an average age of 32 years ranging from 13 to 60. There were 13 cases of tibial and fibual fractures, 3 cases of tibial plateau fractures, 4 cases of femoral shaft fractures. SpO2 on the end of injured extremities were dynamic monitored and osteofascial compartmental pressure was measured by modified Whiteside method. The data of two group were compared.

RESULTSAmong 20 cases, it's negative correlation between the data of pulse blood oxygen saturation and osteofascial compartmental pressure.

CONCLUSIONThe method of dynamic monitor extremity SpO2 can reflect indirectly the ischemia in muscle and nerve and report the early diagnosis and management of osteofascial compartmental syndrome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Compartment Syndromes ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue ; metabolism ; Oximetry ; methods ; Oxygen ; blood ; Regional Blood Flow ; physiology ; Young Adult

A series of novel 4-substituted-3-nitrobenzamide derivatives were designed and synthesized. The structures of the target compounds were confirmed with 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and element analysis. Anti-tumor activities against HCT-116, MDA-MB435 and HL-60 cell lines in vitro were evaluated by SRB assay. The results indicated most of the target compounds exhibited potent anti-tumor activity. Compound 4a showed the most potent inhibitory activities against three cancer cell lines with the GI50 values of 1.904-2.111 micromol x L(-1). Compounds 4g, 41-4n exhibited more potent inhibitory activities against MDA-MB435 and HL-60 cell lines with the GI50 values of 1.008-3.586 micromol x L(-1) and 1.993-3.778 micromol x L(-1), respectively. The structure-activity relationship of these compounds is discussed preliminarily.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Design ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Structure-Activity Relationship

A series of [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f]isoindolone derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterases (AChE). Furthermore, their effects on memory impairment of mice induced by scopolamine were investigated with step-through test. The results suggested that most of the target compounds exhibited potential inhibition on AChE with IC50 values at micromolar range. Compounds I1 (IC50 value of 0.086 μmol · L(-1)) and I2 (IC50 value of 0.080 μmol · L(-1)) showed the strongest AChE inhibitory activity, which are equipotent to donepezil (IC50 value of 0.094 μmol · L(-1)). Moreover, compounds I1-I4 could improve the memory impairment induced by scopolamine in mice.
Animals ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Dioxoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Design ; Indans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Isoindoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Piperidines ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents in flower bud of Artemisia scoparia.

METHODThe methanol extract was isolated by column chromatography with silica gel, polyamide and Sephadex LH-20 as packing materials and HPLC, six compounds were obtained and their structures were identified by UV, NMR and MS.

RESULTSix compounds were identified as beta-sitosterol (IX), 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (X), 6-demethylcapillarisin (XI), capillartemisin B (XII), kumatakenin (XIII), isoscoploletin-beta-D-glucoside (XIV).

CONCLUSIONXI, XII, XIII and XIV were obtained from the plant for the first time, and XI is a new compound.

Artemisia ; chemistry ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which can promote cell differentiation and inhibit cell apoptosis, on hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in A549 cells and its anti-apoptotic mechanism.

METHODSA549 cells were sub-cultured, exposed to hyperoxic conditions and were then treated with different concentrations of IGF-1 (1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) for 48 hours. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining flow cytometry. Expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe middle-dose and high-dose IGF-1 intervention groups had higher cell viabilities than the hyperoxic exposure group [(64±3)% and (88±4)% vs (51±3)%; P<0.05]. Compared with the air control group, the hyperoxic exposure group had a significantly higher apoptotic rate [(38.3±5.4)% vs (2.4±0.9)%; P<0.05], a significantly lower expression level of Bcl-2 [(72±5)% vs (91±4)%; P<0.05], and a significantly higher expression level of Bax [(54±6)% vs (3±2)%; P<0.05]. Compared with the hyperoxic exposure group, the low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose IGF-1 intervention groups had significantly lower apoptotic rates [(16.1±4.7)%, (9.2±2.8)%, and (6.9±2.5)% vs (38.3±5.4)%; P<0.05], significantly higher expression level of Bcl-2 [(79±4)%, (94±4)%, and (100±5)% vs (72±5)%; P<0.05], and significantly lower expression level of Bax [(26±4)%, （5±2)%, and (4±2)% vs (54±6)%; P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia significantly inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in A549 cells. IGF-1 may promote cell proliferation and inhibit hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in A549 cells by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; pathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

Wuzhuyu Tang is a classical formula for treating migraine, but its' pharmacological ingredients is unclear yet. Present study employed the everted intestinal sac model to collect the absorption samples of 10 kinds of Wuzhuyu decoction, and then analyzed the contents of 9 ingredients in Wuzhuyu Tang and absorption samples quantitatively or semi-quantitatively by HPLC-DAD method. Reserpine was used to establish the mice model of migraine, and then the contents and activities of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, dopamine, nitric oxide and nitricoxide synthase in brain tissues and serums were determined respectively after oral administration of Wuzhuyu Tang. Using the partial least squares regression method to correlate the total absorption quantity of 9 ingredients and pharmacodynamics. The result shows that limocitrin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, rutaevine, limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine are the main ingredients influenced the effects in absorption samples in everted intestinal sacs, especially ginsenoside Rg1, rutaevine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine among them have obvious improving effects to most pharmacodynamics index, might be the pharmacological ingredients influenced the therapeutical effects of Wuzhuyu Tang treating migraine.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the change in IL-13 mRNA expression in rat lungs with acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), so as to investigate the significance of anti-inflammatory mechanism in the development of ALI.

METHODS(1) Different doses (2 approximately 8 mg/kg) of LPS were injected via the tail vein to the rats to establish ALI model. (2) The IL-13 mRNA content in pulmonary tissue was determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTS(1) Different degrees of ALI was induced in the rats by different doses of LPS. ARDS was produced in the rats by LPS of 6 mg/kg. (2) The IL-13 mRNA expression in the pulmonary tissue could be enhanced by the induction of LPS, especially when its dose was larger than 6 mg/kg.

CONCLUSION(1) Rat ALI model could be produced by LPS injection via the tail vein. (2) LPS in dose of 6 mg/kg was the threshold for the production of rat ARDS. (3) The incidence of rat ARDS might be closely related to the enhanced expression of IL-13 mRNA in rat pulmonary tissue.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Interleukin-13 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the role of apelin in the prevention of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia in rats.

METHODSThe animal model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was established by exposing the rats to isobaric hypoxic chamber for 4 weeks (8 h/d, 6 d/ w). Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (NC), hypoxic group(HH), hypoxic with low-dose apelin (5 nmol/(kg x d) group(LA) and high-dose apelin (10 nmol/(kg x d) (HA). [pGlu]apelin-13 was administered into the rats of apelin groups by mini-osmotic pump subcutaneously. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP) and the mean carotid arterial pressure (mCAP) were measured by either right or left cardiac catheterization, and the weight ratio of right ventricule/left ventricule plus septum (RV/(LV + S)) were calculated. The Masson's trichrome stained lung specimens were examined by light microscope to examine the vessel wall area/total area (WA/TA), vessel cavity area/total area (CA/TA) and media thickness of pulmonary arterioles (PAMT). Meanwhile, the lung homogenates were assayed for the activity of supeeroxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA).

RESULTS(1) mPAP and RV/(LV + S) of HH group were significantly higher than those of NC group. mPAP of LA and HA groups were lower than those of HH group. The RV/(LV + S) of HA group was significantly lower than that of HH group, but there was no significant difference between HH group and LA group. (2) Masson's trichrome staining revealed that WA/TA and PAMT of HH group were higher than those of NC group. Administration of apelin significantly eliminated WA/TA and PAMT in LA and HA groups. (3) CA/TA of HH group was lower than that of NC group. Administration of apelin significantly elevated CA/TA in LA and HA groups. (4) The activity of SOD and content of MDA in HH group was, respectively, lower and higher than those in NC group. Apelin treatment increased the activity of SOD in LA and HA groups while decreased the content of MDA.

CONCLUSIONSApelin could play an important role in treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension of rats and the mechanisms of protection were associated with vasodilation of pulmonary artery and inhibition of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Hypoxia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

High mobility group A2 protein (HMGA2), an architectural factor, is highly expressed in various cancer types including lung cancers. It is a candidate target for cancer therapy. RNAi is an effective gene silencing method with low cost and less time-consuming. It is possible to exploit this technology in therapy. Here, 5 siRNAs targeting Hmga2 gene (HMGA2 siRNA1-5) were designed and synthesized. MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effects of these siRNAs on lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H446 and A549). Results from cell proliferation, clone formation, migration and apoptosis showed that HMGA2 siRNA1, 3, 5 could affect these aspects for both lung cancer cell lines. Among the five siRNAs, HMGA2 siRNA5 showed the greatest inhibition effects. The inhibition effects of HMGA2 siRNA5 are sequence specific and are not due to the induction of interferon response. Taken together, siRNAs targeting Hmga2 gene are potential candidates for lung cancer gene therapy.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Therapy ; HMGA2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferons ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection