OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Naohuandan (NHD) in treating senile dementia (SD).

METHODSClinical study: Fifty-eight patients with SD, whose diagnosis conforms to the Diagnostic Standard of DSM-IV issued by American Association of Psychiatry, were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups. The 30 patients in the treated group were treated with NHD, 4 capsules each time, 3 times daily. The 28 patients in the control group were treated with Piracetam, 1.6 g each time, 3 times daily. The therapeutic course for both groups was 3 months. The therapeutic efficacy was estimated and compared by comprehensive scores of memory and cognition, scores of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Experimental study: Rats were divided into the control group, the model group and the high-dosage and low-dosage NHD treated groups. The protective effect of NHD on the per-oxidative damage of hippocampal neurons in beta-amyloid protein induced SD model was observed and the related criteria were determined.

RESULTSClinical study showed that both NHD and Piracetam could improve the clinical symptoms of patients, the two medicines showing insignificant difference in total effective rate. But NHD was better in elevating MMSE score and lowering ADL score in patients than Piracetam (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Experimental study showed that (1) 24 and 72 hrs after modeling, the activity of SOD and GSH were lower and the level of MDA higher in the model group than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the model group at the corresponding time points, in the high-dosage NHD group, SOD and GSH were higher, MDA was lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); but in the low-dosage NHD group, SOD at the 72nd hr was higher (P < 0.05) and MDA at 24th and 72nd hrs was lower (P < 0.01). And most of the criteria in the high-dosage NHD group was improved better than that in the low-dosage NHD group. (2) The survival rates of neurons in various groups were not different significantly (P > 0.05) 24 hrs after modeling, but that in the high-dosage NHD group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.01) and in the low-dosage NHD group 72 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNHD is an effective Chinese herbal preparation for treatment of SD, and its mechanism is related with its inhibition on peroxidative injury and protection on neurons.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

AIMTo synthesize new fluoroquinolone analogues as antibacterial compounds.

METHODS AND RESULTSBy reaction of acryl chloride(chloro-carbonic ester) with sodium sulfocyanate, acyl isosulfocyanic ester were easily obtained. Twelve 7-(4-acylamino-thiocarbamoyl-1-piperazinyl) fluoroquinolone analogues (1-12) were synthesized through modifying the 7-piperazine of norflorxacin and ciprofloxacin with isosulfocyanic ester synthesized above. The structures of synthesized compounds were characterized by 1HNMR, IR and elemental analysis.

CONCLUSIONAntibacterial activities of the new compounds were evaluated in vitro compared with norflorxacin. Compounds 5, 7, 10 and 12 showed antibacterial activities.

Anti-Infective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis ; drug effects ; Ciprofloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Fluoroquinolones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Norfloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology

This study is purposed to investigate the effects of praeruptorin A (PA) and praeruptorin C (PC) on UGT1A1 in HepG2 cells through hCAR pathway. PA and PC were incubated with HepG2 cells for 24 h and 48 h, mRNA and protein expressions of UGT1A1 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting assays. Additionally, effects of PA and PC on UGT1A1 mRNA and protein expressions were also measured after transient transfection of a specific CAR siRNA for 72 h in HepG2 cells. UGT1A1 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased by PA and PC after incubation for 48 h. Moreover, the mRNA and protein up-regulations of UGT1A1 were attenuated by transient transfection of a specific CAR siRNA, suggesting the induction was mediated by CAR. The results suggest that PA and PC can significantly up-regulate UGT1A1 expression partially via the CAR-mediated pathway.
Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcomes and risk factors in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on newly onset SSNS admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2006 to December 2010 and 105 cases with follow-up for more than 10 years were included. Clinical data including general characteristics, clinical manifestation, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis. The primary outcome was the clinical cure, and the secondary outcomes were relapse or ongoing immunosuppressive treatment within the last 1 year of follow-up and complications at the last follow-up. According to the primary outcome, the patients were divided into clinical cured group and uncured group. Categorical variables were compared between 2 groups using the χ² or Fisher exact test, and continuous variables by t or Mann-Whitney U test. Multiple Logistic regression models were used for multivariate analysis. Results: Of the 105 children with SSNS, the age of onset was 3.0 (2.1, 5.0) years, and 82 (78.1%) were boys, 23(21.9%) were girls. The follow-up time was (13.1±1.4) years; 38 patients (36.2%) had frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS or SDNS) and no death or progression to end-stage kidney disease. Eighty-eight patients (83.8%) were clinically cured. Seventeen patients (16.2%) did not reach the clinical cure criteria, and 14 patients (13.3%) had relapsed or ongoing immunosuppressive treatment within the last year of follow-up. The proportion of FRNS or SDNS (12/17 vs. 29.5% (26/88), χ²=10.39), the proportion of treatment with second-line immunosuppressive therapy (13/17 vs. 18.2% (16/88), χ²=21.39), and the level of apolipoprotein A1 at onset ((2.0±0.5) vs. (1.7±0.6) g/L, t=2.02) in the uncured group were higher than those in the clinical cured group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that patients treated with immunosuppressive therapy had an increased risk of not reaching clinical cure in the long term (OR=14.63, 95%CI 4.21-50.78, P<0.001). Of the 55 clinically cured patients who had relapsed, 48 patients (87.3%) did not relapse after 12 years of age. The age at last follow-up was 16.4 (14.6, 18.9) years, and 34 patients (32.4%) were ≥18 years of age. Among the 34 patients who had reached adulthood, 5 patients (14.7%) still relapsed or ongoing immunosuppressive treatment within the last year of follow-up. At the last follow-up, among the 105 patients, 13 still had long-term complications, and 8 patients were FRNS or SDNS. The proportion of FRNS or SDNS patients with short stature, obesity, cataracts, and osteoporotic bone fracture was 10.5% (4/38), 7.9% (3/38), 5.3% (2/38), and 2.6% (1/38), respectively. Conclusions: The majority of SSNS children were clinically cured, indicating a favorable long-term prognosis. History of treatment with second-line immunosuppressive therapy was the independent risk factor for patients not reaching the clinical cure criteria in the long term. While it is not uncommon for children with SSNS to persist into adulthood. The prevention and control of long-term complications of FRNS or SDNS patients should be strengthened.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Nephrotic Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVETo observe the treating effect of collage-heparin sulfate after the 10 mm rat sciatic nerve defect was bridged by it.

METHODSA new kind of nervous tissue engineering scaffold was produced by freeze-drying technique from collagen-heparin sulfate. Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into A, B, C and D groups. Sciatic nerve defect in group A was bridged by collagen-heparin sulfate. In group B, sciatic nerve was bridged by auto-nerve transplantation. Group C was the blank control group. Animals in group D were normal. And 10 mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged in the experiment. Thirty-six weeks after the operation, the experimental animals were detected by HRP labeled retrograde trace, HE staining, toluidine staining, silvering staining, S100, GAP-43 and NF immunohistological staining, MBP immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscope to observe the nerve regeneration inducing effect of this new scaffold.

RESULTSNine months after operation, the collage-heparin sulfate scaffold was replaced by newly regenerated nerve. The number of HRP labeled spinal cord anterior horn cells and the area of sensation nerve fiber at the posterior horn were similar with that was repaired by auto-nerve. GAP-43, NF and S100 labeled regenerated nerve fiber had passed the total scaffold and entered the distal terminal. The regenerated nerve fibers were paralleled, lineage arranged, coincide with the prearranged regenerating "channel" in the collagen-heparin sulfate scaffold. MBP immunofluorescence staining also proved that the newly regenerated nerve fiber could be ensheathed. In the experimental group, the area of myelinated nerve fiber and the thickness of the myelin sheath had no obvious difference with that of the group repaired by auto-nerve, except that the density of the regenerated myelinated sheath fiber was lower than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONNervous tissue engineering scaffold produced by collagen-heparin sulfate can guide the regeneration of nerve fibers. The nerve function recovers fine. This kind of material has great application potential.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Heparitin Sulfate ; Male ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Sulfuric Acid Esters ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the carbon black induced effects of lung morphology and pro-inflammation in mice, based on the carbon black aerosol dynamic inhalation exposure model.

METHODSThe carbon black aerosol generated by dynamic inhalation device was imported exposure chamber to mice. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the characters of carbon black. Sixty 9-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two control groups, 7 d exposure group and 14 d exposure group. The numbers of four groups of animals were 15, respectively. Mice were exposed to carbon black in the inhalation chamber at (29.33 ± 9.10) mg/m(3) for 6 h/d for continuous exposure 7 d and 14 d, respectively. After 7 d and 14 d exposure, the mice were sacrificed after the last exposure for 24 h. Control mice were killed at 7 d and 14 d. The trachea, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen tissues were separated and weighted. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes of lung by light microscopy. Pulmonary interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultra structure of lung tissue.

RESULTSAfter 14 d exposure carbon black, the lung coefficient was increased in exposure group compared with control (0.61 ± 0.03 vs 0.79 ± 0.06, t = 6.26, P < 0.01). The spleen coefficient were higher than control(0.39 ± 0.04 vs 0.51 ± 0.06, t = 4.23, P < 0.01) . Other organ coefficients were no significant difference between CB group and control group.Histopathology displayed carbon black particles were deposited in the alveoli and lung bronchial wall in 7 d and 14 d groups. The black carbon particles were deposited within the lung tissue of mice in 14 d group. There were cilia damage, serious damage to the alveolar wall, inflammatory cell infiltration and more hyperemia in 14 d group. Immunohistochemistry showed the level of IL-8 in 7 d (0.272 ± 0.011) and 14 d (0.422 ± 0.065) exposure group were higher than control group in 14 d (0.188 ± 0.041) , F = 31.89, P < 0.01. TEM showed that the lung tissue vision was clear and organelle integrity in the control group. The particles appeared in lung tissue macrophage lysosomes in exposure group, the electron density was consistent with the carbon black particles.

CONCLUSIONThe dynamic carbon black particles exposure can affect the lung and spleen coefficient, damage integrity of lung morphology and induce inflammation in mice.

Aerosols ; Animals ; Cilia ; Inflammation ; Inhalation Exposure ; Interleukin-8 ; Lung ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; Soot ; Spleen

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of AICAR on the activity of transcription factor FOXO1 and expression of ubiquitin ligase MuRF1 in rat cardiomyocytes, and explore the possible role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in proteolysis pathways.

METHODSIn vitro cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were treated with AICAR, and Western blotting was used to detect the phosphorylation of FOXO1 and expression of MuRF1 in the cells.

RESULTSAICAR activated AMPK in rat cardiac myocytes. Activated AMPK significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of FOXO1 and increased MuRF1 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONAMPK may regulate proteolysis by activating FOXO1 transcription factor and up-regulating MuRF1 expression.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Aminoimidazole Carboxamide ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Tripartite Motif Proteins ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore cell culture techniques for amplification of oval cells with preservation simultaneously of the stem cell characteristics.

METHODSOval cell line OC3 was cultured in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum and 20 µg/L EGF. Cells were harvested every 5 passages and were examined with biomarkers including OV-6, c-kit, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, placental form of glutathione-S-transferase (GST-P), pyruvate kinase M₂, pyruvate kinase L and albumin using techniques including RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and enzymo-cytochemistry.

RESULTSOC3 cell lines could be amplified abundantly in-vitro associating with expression of infant liver cell markers at various level, including OV-6, c-kit, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, GST-P, pyruvate kinase M₂, but no expression of mature hepatocyte markers detected including pyruvate kinase L and albumin.

CONCLUSIONSAmplification of OC3 cells with preservation of the stem cell phenotype and high proliferation index can be achieved up to the 79(th) passages by culturing in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum and 20 µg/L EGF.

Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Culture Media ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver ; cytology ; growth & development ; Phenotype ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Pyruvate Kinase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the CT image of gastrointestinal schwannomas (GIS) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST), and to find the CT features to be helpful for differentiation of GIS from GIST.

METHODSClinical and iconography data of 15 GIS patients and 50 GIST patients who underwent stomach CT scan with postoperatively confirmed histopathology between January 2000 and July 2014 in our department were collected retrospectively. CT findings of these two tumors were compared. Then the ROC curve was drawn based on the significant CT findings and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the sensibility and specificity for the differential diagnosis of GIS and GIST.

RESULTCT findings, such as the tumor size, shape, cystic change, perilesional lymph nodes, vessel seeding, enhancement pattern and degree, absolute and standardized CT value were significantly different between GIS and GIST(all P<0.05). Among the CT findings, tumor size, cystic change, perilesional lymph nodes, enhancement pattern and arterial phase standardized CT value (Sa) were better differential than others (all AUC>0.7). Tumor size showed the highest sensibility(90%), and cystic change and Sa showed the highest specificity(87%).

CONCLUSIONSGIS seems to show a homogeneous tumor more frequently, presenting light and moderate enhancement pattern and obvious enhancement of perilesional lymph nodes, while GIST seems to reveal malignant features, such as abundant blood supply, larger volume, frequent necrosis and cystic change. Cystic change and Sa value possess the better differential ability in diagnosis of these two tumors.