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 study the molecular mechanism of Zuogui Pill (ZGP) and Yougui Pill (YGP) on axonal regeneration in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

METHODSEAE rat model was established by bilateral rear pedes subcutaneous injection of antigen made by mixing myelin basic protein (MBP) and complete Freud's adjuvant (CFA) in the volume ratio of 1:1. The pathological changes of axonal injury and regeneration in the brain and the spinal cord were observed on the 14th (the acute stage) and the 28th day (the remission stage) after modeling, with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, silver stain, and immunohistochemical staining. The rats treated with prednisone acetate were taken as controls.

RESULTSObservation under the light microscope with HE staining showed a sleeve-like change in rats' cerebrospinal parenchyma with inflammatory cell infiltration around the small vessels and neuronic denaturation, while silver staining showed excessive tumefaction and abscission of axon, and immunohistochemical analysis showed decreasing of nerve growth factor (NGF) expression at the acute stage of EAE, which was even more remarkable at the remission stage, showing significant difference as compared with the normal control (P<0.05). And the expressions of Nogo A, an axon growth inhibitor, and its receptor (Nogo-66 receptor, Ng R) were significantly higher than those in the normal control at the acute stage (P<0.01). However, after the intervention of ZGP and YGP, the pathological changes and axon damage in rats' brain and spinal cord were much more alleviated, and the NGF expression was significantly higher than that in the model group at the acute stage (P<0.05). The expression of NGF was even stronger during the remission stage, and a better effect was shown by YGP. As for Nogo A and Ng R expressions, they were significantly lower than those in the model group at the acute stage (P<0.05), but a better effect was shown by ZGP.

CONCLUSIONSZGP and YGP can prevent axonal injury and promote the axonal regeneration in rats of EAE, and the possible mechanism is to increase the expression of NGF and reduce the expression of Nogo A and its receptor. However, some differences are observed between the two Chinese preparations in their acting times and points, which provides a certain basis for revealing the modern connotation of the Chinese medicine theory on tonifying Shen ()-yin and Shen-yang.

Animals ; Axons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiology ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Male ; Myelin Proteins ; metabolism ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Nogo Proteins ; Nogo Receptor 1 ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Receptors, Peptide ; metabolism ; Research ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tablets

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

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the roots of Stellera chamaejasme.

METHODThe chemical constituents were separated and purified by chromatographic method after solvent extraction and were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTTwo phenolic compounds were obtained and determined as stelleranol (1) and umbelliferone-7-O-glucoside (2).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new compound, and compound 2 was isolated from this plant for the first time.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

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

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