To investigate the metabolic rate and metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide, which is the main active ingredient in Xiyanping injection, by using the in vitro rat liver microsome incubation system. 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was incubated together with liver microsome mixed with NADPH. Its metabolic rate was studied by determining its residual concentrations with the UHPLC-MS/MS method; Its metabolites were identified by the UPLC-TOF-MS(E) method. The results showed that 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide was metabolized faster than rat liver microsomes mixed with coenzymes, with t½ and CL of (19.7 ± 0.5) min and (35.1 ± 0.8) mL x min(-1) x g(-1) (protein), respectively. Based on the high resolution mass spectrum data and information from literatures, altogether nine metabolites of 9-dehydro-17-dehydro-andrographolide were identified in the incubation system, particularly hydroxylated and dehydrogenized products. The results of identification would provide a basis for screening out more active andrographolide derivatives.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Microsomes, Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To investigate the application of carotid artery resection and reconstruction in surgical management of thyroid carcinoma with carotid artery involvement.Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 10 patients whose common carotid arteries were invaded by thyroid carcinoma.All patients underwent tumor en bloc resection and carotid arteries reconstruction.Patients were evaluated by muhidisciplinary team and surgeries were cooperated by general surgeons,orthopedists and vascular surgeons.The perioperative complications and surgical outcomes were also recorded and analyzed.Results No patient had complications of central nervous system.One patient suffered Horner syndrome and one presented hoarseness postoperative.Two patients had wound infection,two patients presented carcinoma recurrence and two patients presented distant metastasis during the follow-up.Conclusion En bloc resection of tumor and carotid artery reconstruction is a feasible modality in treatment of thyroid carcinoma with carotid artery invasion.

Objective To evaluate MRI in the diagnosis of the bone contusion of the knee joint and its clinical significance.Methods Using special coil for knee joint,coronal,sagittal,axial and oblique sagittal plane scanning with fast spin-echo sequence(T_1WI,T_2WI,PDWI+FS)was performed on knee joint in 205 patients in three days after injury.According the distributing bone marrow edema and injury mechanism,bone contusion were classified five types as pivot shift injury,clip injury,dashboard injury, hyperextension injury and lateral patellar dislocation.Results One hundred and forty-five cases of the 205 patients were found bone marrow edema without fracture on X-ray films.Among them,pivot shift injury was found in 43 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 30 cases,tear of the posterior horn of the lateral or medial meniscus in 12 and tears of the medial collateral ligament in 8 cases;clip injury in 53 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 10 cases,tear of the posterior horn of the lateral or medial meniscus in 15 and tears of the medial collateral ligament in 38 cases;dashboard injury 40 cases accompanied with posterior cruciate ligament rupture in 16 cases,hyperextension injury 9 cases accompanied with anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 2 cases,posterior cruciate ligament rupture in 5 cases.No lateral patellar dislocation was found.Forty-eight of 145 patients had undergone arthroscopy, 43 cases(89.6%)of them were in accordance with MRI diagnosis.Bone contusion were defined as geographic regions of abnormal signal intensity,that is,low signal intensity in T_1-weighted images and high signal intensity in PD-weighted or T_2-weigeted images with fat saturation.Conclusion MRI can accurately display the location and area of bone contusion of the knee joint as well as its adjunctive structure injury and deduce their injury mechanism.MRI should be used routinely for knee trauma.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of acupuncture in reducing body weight.

METHODSFifty cases of simple obesity were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a drug control group, 25 cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with body acupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), etc, electroacupuncture and ear point tapping and pressing therapy (Shenmen, Endocrine, etc. were selected); the patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of sibutramine. The serum leptin level before and after treatment were determined and the therapeutic effect in reducing body weight was assessed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 88.0% in the acupuncture group and 80. 0% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05); after treatment, the serum leptin level in both the two groups decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the decreasing amplitude in the acupuncture group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture therapy has a definite therapeutic effect in reducing body weight, and the improvement of serum leptin level of the patient is possibly one of the mechanisms of acupuncture in reducing body weight.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Body Weight ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Obesity ; therapy

Objective To investigate a method for the purification of the N?terminal peptide fragment(NT)of the myocardial calcium channel Cav1.2,and characterize its interaction with calmodulin(CaM). Methods EscherichiacoliBL?21 cells were transformed with plasmid pGEX?6p?3/NT harboring the NT?GST fusion gene. The cells harboring pGEX?6p?3/NT were cultured and protein expression was induced with isopropyl?β?D?thiogalactoside(IPTG). Then,the GST?NT fusion protein was purified by using glutathione Sepharose 4B(GS?4B)beads. GST was cleaved off with the PreScission protease,and SDS?PAGE was performed to detect the purity and relative molecular weight of the purified peptide. Further, GST pull?down assay was performed to characterize the interaction of the NT peptide with CaM. Results SDS?PAGE analysis showed that the NT peptide was successfully purified,with high purity. Results of the GST pull?down assay showed that the NT peptide could interact with CaM. Conclusion This study establishes a method for the purification of the NT peptide and lays the foundation for further research on the interaction partners and biological functions of NT.

Objective To demonstrate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS)plaques,periplaque white matter regions and normal appearing white matter (NAWM)regions in patients with MS,and to evaluate the clinical values of DTI and three-dimensional brain fiber tracking for the diagnosis of MS.Methods Conventional MRI and DTI were performed in 32 patients with MS and 32 age-matched control subjects.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)maps were generated and coregistered with T_2-weighted MR images,FA and ADC values were calculated in regions of interest in plaques,periplaque white matter regions,NAWM regions and white matter regions in control subjects.And three-dimensional brain fiber tracking maps were generated by using the DTI.Results TheADCwas(1.233?0.119)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in MS plaques,(0.973?0.098)?10~(-3) mm~2/s in periplaque white matter regions,(0.748?0.089)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in NAWM,and(0.620? 0.094)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in control subjects.The FA was 0.225?0.052 in MS plaques,0.311?0.050 in perip]aque white matter regions,0.421?0.070 in NAWM,and 0.476?0.069 in control subjects. Significant differences in FA and ADC values were observed among all white matter regions(P

Objective To evaluate the outcome of health education program on drowning prevention among primary and secondary school children in rural areas. Methods A township was selected and all the students from grade 3 to 5, grade 7 to 8, and grade 10 to 11 were selected to take part in the program. Twelve intervention measures on natural water safety and drowning prevention were carried out for one year. Information was collected using the same questionnaire before and after the intervention program. Results One year after the intervention was carried out, children's knowledge on drowning prevention improved significantly (13.21, 95% CI: 12.51-13.90) , and a positive effect was also noticed among boys (12.77, 95%CI: 11.77-13.77), girls (13.80, 95%CI: 12.82-14.78),and among primary school children (15.51,95%CI: 14.30-16.72), senior high school children (10.78,95%CI: 9.50-12.05) and junior high school children (12.77,95%CI: 11.84-13.71). Overall rates on risk behaviors dropped from 41.4% to 32.2% (by 22.2%) including 15.6% for boys, 35.2% for girls and 13.8%, 29.3%, 26.3% for primary school children, senior high school children, junior high school children, respectively. The incidence rates for non-fatal drowning decreased by 58.9% (from 5.6% to 2.3%). The person-times for treatment on sight, in emergency settings, in outpatient clinic or in the hospitals had a reduction from 399, 78, 36 to 175, 32, 14, respectively. Conclusion Health education program could improve children's perception on water safety, and reduce their risk behaviors as well as on the incidence of non-fatal drowning in the rural areas.

AIMTo evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects.

METHODSA cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testicular tissues through reverse transcription with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray (each containing 4096 unique human cDNA sequences). The fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. In situ hybridization was employed to detect the expression of Rap1A in the testes of 10 fertile and 39 azoospermic subjects.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-eight differentially expressed genes were found to be possibly related to azoospermia, of which 56 were up-regulated and 72, down-regulated genes. The mRNA expression of Rap1A in the spermatogenic cells of azoospermic was stronger than that in those of the fertile testes.

CONCLUSIONRap1A may play certain roles in the development of azoospermia.

Adult ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Spermatozoa ; chemistry ; Testis ; chemistry ; rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in the mRNA expression of adiponectin (Adp), adiponectin receptors(AdpR), and leptin in different adipose tissues of Wannanhua pigs at different stages of development, and their sexual dimorphism.

METHODSFive Wannanhua boars and five Wannanhua gilts were sampled at birth, 30, 45, 90, and 180 days of age respectively. The delta delta Ct relative quantification real-time PCR was used to detect the transcription levels of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNAs in subcutaneous (SC) and perirenal (PR) adipose tissues, and beta-actin were used as internal standards.

RESULTSThe expression level of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA in SC and PR adipose tissue were changed with age significantly (P < 0.01). In general, Adp mRNA expression in SC adipose tissue was significantly lower than that in PR adipose tissue (P < 0.05), while AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA expression in SC adipose tissue were significantly higher than those in PR adipose tissue (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Although the sexual dimorphism were found in apart genes or apart days of age, Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA expression both in SC adipose tissue and PR adipose tissue had no significant differences between Wannanhua gilts and boars in general. Significant positive correlation was found between Adp and AdpR1, AdpR2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and significant negative correlation was found between Adp and leptin (P < 0.05) in SC adipose tissue and PR adipose tissue respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Adp, AdpR1, AdpR2, and leptin mRNA in adipose tissue of Wannanhua pigs followed specific developmental patterns and tissue specificity. Adp correlated with its receptors.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adiponectin ; metabolism ; Adipose Tissue ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Leptin ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Adiponectin ; metabolism ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of 980 nm diode laser vaporization in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe treated 92 BPH patients by 980 nm diode laser vaporization. The patients were aged 65 - 89 years, with a mean prostate volume of (50.1 +/- 13.0) ml. We analyzed and compared the mean operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative complications, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), and post void residual (PVR) before and after surgery.

RESULTSOperations were successful in all the 92 cases, with an average operation time of (70.2 +/- 16.9) min, very little blood loss and no blood transfusion. The transurethral catheter indwelling time was 2 -5 (2.4 +/- 0.3) days. The patients were followed up for 1 to 3 months, which revealed a significant reduction in IPPS (P < 0.01) and improvement in Qmax and PVR (P < 0.01) as compared with preoperation. No severe complications were reported, including urinary incontinence and bladder irritation symptoms. None of the patients complained of impaired erectile function.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral 980 nm diode laser vaporization is a safe and effective treatment for BPH.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome