AIM: To observe the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1? (HIF-1?) gene and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene in pulmonary arteries in hypoxic rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia for 0, 3, 7, 14 or 21 days. Mean pulmonary pressure (mPAP), vessel morphometry, right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) were measured. Lungs were either inflation fixed for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization or frozen for later measurement of HO-1 enzyme activity. RESULTS: During hypoxia, mPAP increased to significantly higher values than the control values after 7-day of hypoxia,reaching its peak after 14-day of hypoxia, then remained on the high level. Pulmonary artery remodeling developed significantly after 14-day of hypoxia. Expression of HIF-1? protein in control was poorly positive, but was up-regulated in pulmonary arterial tunica intimae of all hypoxic rats. In pulmonary arterial tunica media, the levels of HIF-1? protein were markedly up-regulated after 3-day and 7-day of hypoxia, then tended to decline after 14-day and 21-day of hypoxia. HIF-1? mRNA staining was poorly positive in control, hypoxia for 3 days and hypoxia for 7 days, but began to enhance significantly after 14-day of hypoxia, then remained stable. Expression of HO-1 protein began to increase after 7-day of hypoxia, reaching its peak after 14-day of hypoxia, then remained stable. Expression of HO-1 mRNA began to increase after 3-day of hypoxia, reaching its peak after 7-day of hypoxia, then declined. CONCLUSION: HIF-1? and HO-1 are both involved in the pathogenesis of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. Furthermore, HIF-1? may inter-regulate with HO-1 gene in this process.

Objective To investigate the sexual development in adolescents after surgical treatment for undescended testes. Methods A total of 166 adolescents underwent surgery for cryptorchidism before age of 10 years.They were divided into 2 groups according to surgical methods,ie,orchiectomy group and orchiopexy group;for the latter,they were subdivided into

The inclusion compound of amylose and salicylic acid (SA) was prepared by a sealed temperature control method, and the formation of the inclusion compound was confirmed by IR spectrum and powder X-ray diffraction. The kinetic parameters of dissociation of amylose/SA compound were studied by the nonisothermal method which was defined as a relationship between the dissociation ratio and time. The values of activation energy (Ea) and frequency factors (InA) were calculated by a nonlinear least-square method. In this study, the formation of the inclusion compound of amylose/SA was confirmed by IR spectrum powder X-ray diffraction. SA existed in a molecule form in the spiral stouction of amylose. The dissociation of amylose/SA compound was attributed to first order reaction. The values of Ea calculated by the nor-isothermal method were 21.71 and 22.41 kJ x mol(-1) at heating rate 5 and 10 degrees C x h(-1), respectively. The corresponding isothermal method value of Ea was 22.17 kJ x mol(-1); the calculated InA values were 9.32 and 10.08 at heating rate 5 and 10 degrees C x h(-1), respectively. The corresponding isothermal method lnA value was 9.26. The results were in good agreement with Ea values and lnA values by isothermal method. These results indicated that the non-isothermal method described in this study could be adequately used for the stability study of inclusion compound and was a rapid and accurate method for the determination of kinetic parameters.

Objective To analysis the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of acute acalculous cholecystitis.Methods Seventy-nine cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis from January 1996 to January 2003 were retrospectively reviewed.Results Of those 79 cases, 13 cases were treated non-operatively and 66 cases were treated operatively. Twenty-three cases were suppurative, 43 cases were gangrenous with perforation in 18 cases,which were proved by postoperative pathology. Seventy-six cases were cured and 3 cases were dead. Conclusion Keeping vigilant alert, observing dynamically as well as appropriate operative intervention are effective to improve the prognosis of acute acalculous cholecystitis.

The purpose of the present study is to use beta-cyclodextrin polymers (beta-CDP) with different cross-linked degree (CLD) to form inclusion complexes with ibuprofen and examine the effects of structural and compositional factors of beta-CDP on its drug loading and release behaviors. A series of beta-CDP with different CLD were synthesized and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and 13C NMR spectrum. The beta-CDP was systemically characterized for the relation between the CLD of beta-CDP and the drug loading and release as well. The results of FT-IR and 13C NMR showed that similar peak-shaped vibration of beta-CDP and beta-CD implies that the polymer keeps the original characteristic structure of beta-CD. The CLD of the beta-CDP played a critical role in the drug loading and release, increasing the CLD resulted in reduction of drug loading, but increase in drug release.

Objective To investigate the relationship between isolated nocturnal hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Methods In the inhabitants of 14 villages in Jingning County, Zhejiang Province, we performed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with SpaceLab monitors and measured 12-lead resting electrocardiogram using an electronic recording system of GE company, Left ventrieular hypertrophy was diagnosed with the criteria of Sokolow-Lyon voltage amplitude and Cornell product. Isolated nocturnal hypertension was defined as a nighttime ( from 22:00 to 4:00) blood pressure of ≥ 120/70 mm Hg( 1 mm Hg = 0. 133 kPa). Isolated daytime ( from 8:00 to 18:00) hypertension was a diurnal blood pressure of ≥ 135/85 nun Hg. When both conditions were present or absent, subjects were classified either as having combined day-night hypertension or as normotensive on ambulatory measurement. Analysis of variance and multiple regressions were used for statistical analysis. Results 647 participants (53.9% being female,average age 47. 8 years) included 72 patients with isolated nocturnal hypertension, 33 with isolated daytime hypertension and 248 with day-night sustained hypertension. Compared with normotensive subjects, patients with isolated nocturnal hypertension and day-night sustained hypertension had a higher Sokoiow-Lyon voltage amplitude and Comell product. However, after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, drinking and smoking habits, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and the use of antihypertensive drugs, only day-night hypertensive patients had a significantly higher Sokolow-Lyon voltage (32. 8 mV, P =0. 0003 ) and Cornell product (1371 mV×ms, P =0.0004) than normotensive subjects (29.0 mV, 1114 mV×ms).Regardless of whether Sokolow-Lyon or Cornell criteria were used, both nighttime and daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure were independent risk factors of left ventricular hypertrophy (P < 0. 01 ). However,the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with isolated nocturnal hypertension ( 23.6% ) study was not statistically different from that in normotensives ( 17.4%, P = 0. 24). Conclusion In our current cross-sectional study, isolated nocturnal hypertension was not independently related to left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed with ECG criteria.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of imatinib mesylate as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor on the biological activity of and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in Hs294T melanoma cells.MethodsAfter Hs294T cells were incubated with imatinib mesylate at various concentrations(4,8,10,16,20 and 24 μmol/L) for 24 hours or imatinib mesylate at 10 μmol/L for 24,48 and 72 hours,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to estimate the proliferation of cells and to determine the effects of imatinib mesylate on the proliferation of Hs294T cells.Then,Hs294T cells were treated with imatinib mesylate at 10 μmol/L or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for different durations,followed by the detection of cell apoptosis with flow cytometry,localization of β-catenin with annexin V/propidium iodide-double staining and laser confocal microscopy,quantification of β-catenin and cyclin D1 protein with Western blot,and measurement of LEF1 and C-myc mRNA expression with real time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR.Matrigel invasion assay was performed to evaluate the invasiveness of Hs294T cells after treatment with imatinib mesylate at 5 μmol/L or DMSO for 24 hours.ResultsImatinib mesylate at 4-10 μmol/L elicited a dose-dependent decline in the proliferation of Hs294T cells (F =125.3,P ＜ 0.05),and imatinib mesylate at 10 μmol/L induced a time-dependent decrease from 24 to 72 hours(F =714.6,P ＜ 0.01 ).The percentage of early and late apoptotic cells was markedly increased,while the invasiveness was decreased by about 48％(P ＜ 0.01 ),together with a downregulation in the expression of LEF1,C-myc and Cyclin D1 in imatinib mesylate-treated Hs294T cells compared with the DMSO-treated cells.No obvious changes were observed in the protein expression of β-catenin,but a decline in the nuclear localization of β-catenin was noted in Hs294T cells after being treated with imatinib mesylate.ConclusionImatinib mesylate may suppress the proliferation and invasion of,but promote the apoptosis in,melanoma cells,by downregulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective: To discuss the action mechanisms of Takayasus arteritis (brachiocephalic artery type) of acupuncture. Methods: We applied acupuncture therapy with the principle of warming Yang and supplementing Qi, removing obstruction in the meridians and recovering pulse, to treat patients with takayasus arteritis (brachiocephalic artery type). Before and after treatment, we detected the TCD (Transcranial Doppler) changes of the average velocity of blood flow (AVBF) and arterial pulsatility index (PI) of related arteris. Results: After treatment,acupuncture and moxibustion can regulate the abnormal blood flow rate in endocranial correlated arteries by two sides, in the AVBF while, elevate the elasticity of endocranial vessels.Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion can regulate cerebrovascular function of patients with takayasus arteritis (brachiocephalic artery type), increase the perfusion of cerebral blood flow, and adjust abnormal state of endocranial hemodynamics. This is possibly the important action mechanisms acupuncture in treating this disorder.

In order to find the cardiotonic constituents of lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., the investigation was carried out. Silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, medium-pressure MCI and reverse phase ODS column chromatography were used to separate the 90% EtOH extract of the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. The structures of the isolated compounds have been identified by chemical properties and spectroscopic analyses. Ten compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated as benzoic acid-5-hydroxy-2-benzoyl-amino methyl ester (1), honokiol (2), pinoresinol (3), salicylic acid (4), p-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (5), songorine (6), karakoline (7), mesaconitine (8), hypaconitine (9) and 14-benzoylhypaconitine (10), separetely. Compound 1 is a new compound and its structure has been established by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR and X-Ray. Compound 2-5 are isolated from the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. for the first time.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of multimodal postoperative analgesia of thoracotomy for malignant tumor excision.Method Sixty patients undergoing thoracotomy for malignant tumor excision were recuited.They were randomized into four groups:group A receiving single flurbiprofen axetil injection,group B using electronic analgesia pump for sufentanil PCIA,group C using electronic analgesia pump for dezocine PCIA and group D receiving sufentanil controlled by PCA-TCI system.Vital signs,artery lood gas analysis,PrinceHenry score,Ramsay score,remedial measure and untoward reactions were recorded.Results The falling down degree of Prince-Henry score of Group D was higher than those of Groups A,B and C (P ＜ 0.05).Reduction of Ramsay score of Group D was higher than those of Groups A,B and C (P ＜ 0.05).The number of the patients in Group D not undergoing Bolus remedial measure was larger than that of those in Groups B and C (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion When referring to the effectiveness and safety of the models administrated the thoracotomy for malignant tumors excision,the analgesia model of PC A-TCI sufentanil (plasma target concentration:0.12～ 0.14 ng/ mL) used in Group D is superior to other models used in Groups A,B and C.Moreover,individual analgesia can be reached by the PCA-TCI sufentanil model.