Inflammation is an important mechanism and etiology of depression. In recent years, researchers have demonstrated that many depression patients are with inflammatory reactions in the corresponding brain regions, and simultaneously chemokines play an important role in depression and inflammation. Meanwhile , in the course of depression, chemokines and their receptors are involved in neuroplasticity, the decrease of monoamine neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine system. In this review, in order to further understand and find better treatment of depression, we summarize the recent studies of the relationship between chemokines and depression disorder.

Objective To study the influence of different degrees of pain on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Methods The degrees of pain were grouped into four levels according to the WHO standard. The QOL of 200 advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients in hospital was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30. Results There were 56 cases with no pain, 101 cases with mild pain, 34 cases with moderate pain and 9 cases with severe pain. The QOL of advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients is poorer. With the increasing degrees of pain, the total score of QOL in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer decreased graduately from(46.354±13.194) to (17.593±14.699). The analysis of variance on total quality of life among differem degrees of pain showed that there was no significant difference between no pain and mild pain in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer (P>0.05). There were significant differences between no pain and moderate pain (P<0.05), between no pain and severe pain (P<0.05), between mild pain and moderate pain (P<0.05), between mild pain and moderate pain (P<0.05), between moderate pain and severe pain (P<0.01). Conclusions Different degrees of pain had different influences on the total quality of life in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. The total score of QOL is negatively correlated with different degrees of pain. It should pay more attention to care and support the advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and seek active measures to improve their QOL.

Objective To retrospectively analyse the clinical data of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery(OPCAB)in our department and summarize the clinical experience of peri-operative management.Methods From January 2007 to May 2008,253 patients underwent OPCAB.Seventy-six cases with left main disease(including 18 cases of single left main lesion and 58 cases of complex lesion);13 cases had single vessel disease;32 cases had double vessels disease and 190 cases had triple vessels disease.Eighteen cases received emergency OPCAB.All vessel anastomosis were performed with coronary artery stablizer and shunt through median sternotomy.Resuits Three cases died after operation(1.2%).Intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 11 cases.Mechanical ventilation time was 3-168 h[(24.1±22.3)h],and ICU stay time was 1-14 day[(2.8±2.0)d].Postoperative hospital stay time was 8-42 days[(15.6±6.3)d].Conclusion OPCAB is reliable for most bypass cases.With appropilate peri-operative management,a satisfied result will be acceptable.

Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of 1386 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB)during Jan 2002 to Mar 2008.Methods OPCAB was done through midsternumtomy under ordinary-temperature anesthesia after radial artery,left breast artery and vena saphena magna were taken.Patients over 70 years old accounted for 32.35%,and the oldest was 99 years old.Emergency and subemergency OPCAB was done in 111 cases,re-do CABG with off-pump technique was done in 52 patients.Results 24 cases died during perioperation,with mortality of 1.73%and all other patients discharged from the hospital.Following operation,the symptoms of angina pectoris were relieved and the life quality was much beaer than that before operation.Conclusion OPCAB is feasible for older patients,who are complicated with other chronic diseases for elder patients.Skillful technique of surgeon,right indications for OPCAB and management of peri-and postoperation are key to success of operation.

OBJECTIVETo probe the expression level of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) in malignant clone cells of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODThe combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunochemistry (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase, APAAP) was used to detect the expression of IGF-IR in the bone marrow cells of 40 MDS patients with abnormal karyotypes.

RESULTSThe average IGF-IR expression level on the clone cells \[(84.5 ± 14.2)%\] from the MDS cases was markedly elevated compared to the corresponding level on normal cells \[(11.4 ± 12.1)%\]. And the percentages of malignant clone cells in all 40 MDS cases were significantly correlated with the relevant percentages of IGF-IR positive nucleated cells (r = 0.929, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIGF-IR might be taken as a marker of clone cells in MDS for its trait to malignant proliferation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Clone Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, IGF Type 1 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

AIMTo determine the effect of piperazinyl estrone, a new estrogen derivative, on bone turnover, bone mass and uteri in ovariectomized rats.

METHODSFemale Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX) or sham operated (sham) at the age of 3 months and treated with estrone (E) at 0.75 mg.kg-1.d-1, or with piperazinyl estrone (P-E) at 1 or 10 mg.kg-1.d-1, orally, for 3 months. At the time of death, the uterine weight was measured. Bone histomorphometric analysis of proximal tibial metaphyses (PTM) was performed in undecalcified sections.

RESULTSBone histomorphometric data showed that the percent trabecular area (% Tb.Ar) of OVX rats with bone high turnover was significantly decreased. The uteri were atrophied. The percent trabecular area (% Tb.Ar) of estrone treated group was increased in decreasing bone turnover manner. But the size and weight of uteri in this group were increased vs OVX group. The bone loss induced by OVX was preserved by P-E treatment, but the mechanism of maintaining bone is different from that of E-treated rats. P-E treatment in low dose did not decrease any bone formation indices, such as percent labeling perimeter, bone formation rate per bone volume (BFR/BV), except bone mineral apposition rate (MAR) compared with E-treated group, and maintained them at OVX level. The uteri were found to be in atrophy compared with the match dose (0.75 mg) of E-treated OVX rats. But rats treated with high dose of P-E showed the same change like E-treated group.

CONCLUSIONThe finding of this study shows that lower dosage of piperazinyl estrone has effect on preventing the bone losses in OVX rats, while the bone formation and the uterus are not affected, thus supporting the hypothesis that piperazinyl estrone has the potential to prevent postmenopausal bone loss in women with less side effects.

Animals ; Atrophy ; prevention & control ; Bone Density ; Estradiol Congeners ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Estrone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Osteoporosis ; prevention & control ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterus ; pathology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of chronic virus-related liver disease severity on propofol requirements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 48 male patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were divided into three groups according to Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification of liver function (groups A, B, and C with mild, moderate and severe liver disease, respectively). After intubation, propofol concentration was adjusted by +/-0.3 microg/mL increments to maintain bispectral index in the range of 40-60. Target propofol concentrations at anesthesia initiation, pre-intubation and pre-incision were recorded. RESULTS: The initial concentration used in group C was significantly lower than that used in group A or B (p<0.05), whereas no difference was observed between groups A and B. At pre-intubation, the actual required concentration of propofol increased significantly (3.2 microg/mL) in group A (p<0.05), which lead to significant differences between the groups (p<0.05). At pre-incision, the requirements for propofol decreased significantly in both groups A and B (3.0 microg/mL and 2.7 microg/mL, respectively) compared with those at pre-intubation (p<0.05), and were significantly different for all three groups (p<0.05), with group C demonstrating the lowest requirement (2.2 microg/mL). The required concentrations of propofol at pre-incision were similar to those at induction. CONCLUSION: In this study, propofol requirements administered by target-controlled infusion to maintain similar depths of hypnosis were shown to depend on the severity of chronic virus-related liver dysfunction. In other words, patients with the most severe liver dysfunction required the least amount of propofol.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthetics, Intravenous/*administration & dosage ; Chronic Disease ; Electroencephalography ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/drug therapy/*surgery ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*complications/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines/*administration & dosage ; Propofol/*administration & dosage ; Virus Diseases/*complications/surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenqi Compound on diabetic angiopathy modeled rats.

METHODSTotally 18 SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and Shenqi Compound group, 6 in each group. The DM rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet (to induce hyperlipidemia) +intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). Shenqi Compound was given to rats in the Shenqi Compound group at the daily dose of 2 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. All treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Then 2-D and ultrasonic integrated backscatter technique were used to evaluate structural and functional changes of abdominal aorta in the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy. The fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries were observed by using HE and Masson trichrome staining. The tension of the aortic vascular ring was determined. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and phosphorylation P38 MAPK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, abdominal aortic systolic inner diameter, diastolic inner diameter, Peterson elastic modulus, stiffness index, and backscatter integral significantly increased; the rangeability of integral backscatter and the extension coefficient of cross section significantly decreased in the DM group (all P < 0.05). After 12 weeks aforesaid indices were obviously improved in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of HE and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries was obviously alleviated in rats of the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of the aortic vascular ring tension showed that acetylcholine induced vasodilatation and maximum diastolic percent were obviously elevated in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all significantly increased in the DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenqi Compound could effectively improve the arterial function in diabetic marcoangiopathy and microvascular dysfunction. The mechanism might be due to the down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta, and further suppressing the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, reducing the synthesis of collagen I and collagen III, therefore, ameliorating arterial and myocardial interstitial fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical components from dried roots of Zanthoxylum dimorphophyllum var. spinifoliun.

METHODThe chemical components were isolated by low pressure column chromatography and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as 6-(2', 3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (I), 6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (II),6-(2',3'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-hydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (III), 6-(2', 3'-oxiranyl-3'-methyl-butyl)-7-methoxy-8- (3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (IV), 7-methoxy-8-(3'-methyl-but-2'-enyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (V).

CONCLUSIONThese compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Coumarins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

The megakaryocyte and platelet lineage may be one of the major sites of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. However, whether HCMV aggravates apoptosis in normal megakaryocytes was not well investigated. Megakaryocytic cell line CHRF-288-11 and HCMV AD 169 strain were co-cultured in this study. PCR was used to detect the direct infection of the cells by HCMV IEA expression. The apoptotic cells were analyzed by morphologic observation, DNA ladder formation, annexin V/PI and PI assay with flow cytometry. The results showed that HCMV significantly inhibited the growth of CHRF cells in three different concentrations of viral infection groups (10(-3), 10(-2), 10(-1)). The viability levels in each infection groups were 77%, 73% and 68% respectively after incubation for 7 days, compared with 98% in the control group. Using annexin V/PI with flow cytometry, it was shown that the percentages of apoptotic cells viral infection in groups (10(-3), 10(-2), 10(-1)) were (21.3 +/- 2.49)%, (25.8 +/- 3.65)% and (31.4 +/- 3.91)% at 7 days after infection, while the control was (3.68 +/- 1.47)%. The apoptotic cells were further confirmed by morphologic observation and DNA ladder formation. Furthermore, PCR detection also showed the direct infection by identification of HCMV IEA expression in CHRF cells. This study suggested that HCMV could directly infect megakaryocytes and aggravated apoptosis in HCMV-infected megakaryocytes.
Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; pathogenicity ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction