Objective: To assess the implementation effects of clinical pathways, compared with usual care, among patients with stroke. Methods:Two investigators independently searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wanfang Database for studies published before December 2014. Jadad methodological approach was applied to assess the quality of included studies and RevMan software (version 5.2.7) was used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 11 RCTs involving 913 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The overall results showed that a shorter average length of stay [MD = -2.92; 95% CI (-4.06, -1.78); P < 0.001] and a lower inpatient expenditures [SMD = -1.64; 95% CI (-1.80, -1.48); P < 0.001] in clinical pathways group comparing with the usual care group. The higher score of patient satisfaction was also seen in clinical pathways group. Conclusion: clinical pathways may reduce the average length of stay, reduce the inpatient expenditures, increase patient satisfaction and improve the quality of care in stroke management.
Stroke

Objective: To assess the implementation effects of clinical pathways, compared with usual care, among patients with stroke. Methods:Two investigators independently searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wanfang Database for studies published before December 2014. Jadad methodological approach was applied to assess the quality of included studies and RevMan software (version 5.2.7) was used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 11 RCTs involving 913 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The overall results showed that a shorter average length of stay [MD = -2.92; 95% CI (-4.06, -1.78); P < 0.001] and a lower inpatient expenditures [SMD = -1.64; 95% CI (-1.80, -1.48); P < 0.001] in clinical pathways group comparing with the usual care group. The higher score of patient satisfaction was also seen in clinical pathways group. Conclusion: clinical pathways may reduce the average length of stay, reduce the inpatient expenditures, increase patient satisfaction and improve the quality of care in stroke management.

Objective To study the effects of Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix ET Rhizoma extracts on sexual behavior of male mice.Methods 50 healthy male mice were randomly divided into the low dose, middle dose and the high dose Rhodiola group, theNanbao capsules group and the normal control group, 10 mice per group. The low dose, middle dose and high dose group were drenched with 0.05, 0.20 and 0.80 g/kg Rhodiola diluent respectively. TheNanbao capsules group mice were drenched with 2.00 g/kg turbid liquid. The normal control group were drenched with saline in the same volume. Liquid is drenched two times each day for 21 days. After 21 days, 50 female mice were matched with to the ratio of 1:1. The number of free movement and swimming test were observed before execution. After the execution, the organ indexes were calculated, and then the contents of SOD and MDA in the testis and liver were measured.Results Compared with the normal control group, capturing latency period of low dose group and middle dose group (20.88 ± 19.94 s, 35.40 ± 22.02 svs.78.11 ± 43.33 s) significantly decreased (P<0.05 orP<0.01). Testicular coefficient of the middle dose group (0.72% ± 0.10 %vs. 0.64% ± 0.08%) was significantly increased (P<0.05); the content of SOD in testicular of the middle dose group, the high dose groups and theNanbao capsules group (152.71 ± 38.10 U/mg, 122.32 ± 52.76 U/mg, 94.38 ± 22.20 U/mgvs. 25.30 ± 14.21 U/mg) increased (P<0.01); the content of SOD in liver of the middle dose group and theNanbaocapsules group (77.71 ± 26.35 U/mg, 74.10 ± 26.04 U/mgvs. 57.92 ± 17.17 U/mg) significantly increased (P<0.05).Conclusion Rhodiola extract can improve the ability of sexual behavior of male mice, and improve the antioxidant capacity of testis and liver.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Heart ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of interleukin (IL)-18 concentrations in serum and placenta and preeclampsia.

METHODSTwenty-seven patients with preeclampsia and 28 women with normal pregnancy were recruited. Blood and placenta samples were taken and serum and placental IL-18 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of IL-18 in serum and placenta were compared.

RESULT(1) The median of serum IL-18 in patients with preeclampsia was 704 ng/L, which was significantly higher than that of control group (470 ng/L, P<0.05). (2) The median of placental IL-18 in patients with preeclampsia was 105 ng/L, which was also significantly higher than that of control group (31.5 ng/L, P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONIncreased serum and placental levels of IL-18 were presented in preeclampsia as compared to normal pregnancy, which might offer insight into the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; metabolism ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the expression of ATP-binding cassette superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) in human colon cancer cell SW480.

METHODSSW480 cells were treated with various concentrations of 5-FU. CCK8 assay was utilized to detect the 5-FU IC50 to SW480 cells. Positive expression of ABCG2 was detected by flow cytometry, and mRNA expression of ABCG2 was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe 5-FU IC50 to SW480 cells increased as the drug concentration increased (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that positive expression rate of ABCG2 in normal SW480 cells (group A) was (6.26±0.86)%. Immediately after treatment with 5-FU for 48 hours, the positive expression rate of ABCG2 (group B) was (3.43±1.18)% (P<0.05). In the second passage of cells after treatment with 5-FU for 48 hours, the positive expression rate of ABCG2 (group C) was (12.91±3.42)% (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of ABCG2 detected by RT-PCR was in accordance with the results from flow cytometry.

CONCLUSIONExpression of ABCG2 in SW480 cells can be affected by various concentrations of 5-FU.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 2 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism

In order to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota and type 2 diabetic erectile dysfunction (T2DED),we analyzed the characteristics of gut microbiota in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with T2DED.Thirty-five SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:control group (n=15)with normal diet,and experimental group (n=20) with construction of T2D model.Faecal and serum samples were collected at 2nd and 8th week after establishment of T2D model,respectively.Faecal samples were used for analysis of gut microbiota,and serum samples for detection of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO),lipopolysaccharide (LPS),and inflammatory factors like interleukin-1 (IL-1),IL-2,IL-10,and monocyte chemoattractantprotein-1 (MCP-1).The main compositions of gut microbiota were Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level,and Oscillospira,Allobaculum,Bacteroides,Ruminococcus,SMB53,Prevotella,Coprococcus,Sutterella and Blautia at the genus level with relatively higher abundance in all SD rats.The relative abundance of Enterococcus,Corynebacterium,Aerococcus,Facklamia (opportunistic pathogens in most case) increased,and that ofAllobaculum,Bifidobacterium,Eubacterium,Anaerotruncus (beneficial bacteria) decreased in T2DED group as compared with that at 2nd week after establishment of T2D model (T2D2 group).The serum contents of TMAO,LPS,IL-1,IL-2,IL-10 and MCP-1 in T2DED group were significantly higher than those in control group.The gut microbiota of T2DED rats was inhibited.The gut microbiota of T2DED rats had changed,as the relative abundance of beneficial bacterium was decreased while that of opportunistic pathogens was increased.The variations of gut microbiota might lead to inflammation and prompt the emergence of erectile dysfunction in the rats with T2D.TMAO might play an important role in the formation of T2DED.

Oxidative stress is implicated in male infertility and significantly higher reactive oxygen species are detected in 25% of infertile males. Although different agents of various alternative medicines, including traditional Chinese medicine, have been tried with varying success, evidence remains limited on whether and how much herbs or supplements might help increase the anti-oxidant ability of the sperm. This study examined the anti-oxidative effects of icariin, a flavonoid isolated from Herba Epimedii, on the human sperm. We prepared the FeSO4/H2O2-damaged human sperms, which were co-cultured with icariin in vitro, and then observed the changes of the sperm by employing Raman micro-spectroscopy. The results showed that Raman mapping with a 514 nm excitation laser allowed clear differentiation of the nucleus, neck, and, in particular, the mitochondria-rich middle piece of a human sperm cell. The effect of icariin on different organelles of the sperm was quantified by localized spectral Raman signatures obtained within milli-seconds, and icariin could keep the "Raman fingerprint" of the human sperm the same as the control groups, suggesting that icariin could protect the human sperm from being damaged by FeSO4/H2O2. Icariin may serve as a tonifying and replenishing agent of herbal origin for enhancing reproductive functions.

Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.

The expression plasmid pET32CPS harboring SmCPS gene was transformed into E. coli BL21 trxB (DE3) resulting in recombinant strain E. coli [pET32CPS]. The induction of E. coli [pET32CPS] in different temperatures, induction time, IPTG concentrations and A600 values of E. coli were performed. The optimal expression conditions of SmCPS were characterized according to the orthogonal analysis, and the ratio of the interest protein to total proteins reached to 35.6%. The recombinant SmCPS protein purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography column was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and then used for rabbit immunization. The titer of the rabbit antiserum against SmCPS was about 1:24 300 after the third immunization, and could specifically recognize the antigen of SmCPS protein by Western blotting analysis. The successful preparation of polyclonal antibody against SmCPS laid a foundation for further correlative study between expression of SmCPS and the production of tanshinones in protein level.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Immune Sera ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; chemistry ; Male ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Transformation, Genetic