Objective To evaluate the preventive effect of auricular therapy in schizophrenia pa-tients with constipation. Methods 200 psychotic inpatients with anti-psychotic medication were random-ly divided into the intervention group and the control group with 100 cases in each group. The intervention group received conventional therapy combined with auricular therapy while the control group adopted only conventional therapy. The incidence of constipation was observed in the two groups. Results The rate of constipation was 11.34% and 36.73% in the intervention group and the control group, respectively. Auricu-lar therapy showed various effect in constipation caused by different drugs, especially for constipation caused by clozapine, chlorpromazine and pentiapine. Conclusions Auricular therapy showed good effect in preventing constipation induced by antipsychotic drags with less pain and adverse effect, easy and safe to operate, besides, it can improve the medication compliance of patients and promote their rehabilitation.

We examined the effect of endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on protein kinase C (PKC) activity induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The results are as follows. The activity of PKC was increased by Ang II (0.01-10 micromol/L) in a dose-dependent manner, but decreased by NO precursor L-arginine (L-Arg) (10 micromol/L-10 mmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Pretreatment with L-Arg (100 micromol/L) decreased significantly Ang II -activated PKC activity and PKC activity induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) ( 10 micromol/L), a PKC activator. Pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-argingie methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blocker, may inhibit significantly the role of L-Arg on Ang II - and PMA-activated PKC activity. The activity of PKC was also decreased by NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (10 micromol/L-1 mmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Pretreatment with SNP (10 micromol/L) decreased significantly Ang II - and PMA-activated PKC activity. These results indicate that PKC was controlled by both NO and Ang II. PKC may be a cross talk between Ang II and NO in cardiomyocytes. NO abolished the activity of PKC and impaired PKC downstream signaling transduction pathway cascades.
Angiotensin II ; physiology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; enzymology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Ventricular fibroblasts were cultured using conditioned growth medium for ventricular fibroblasts (FCGM). The rate of the total collagen synthesis of ventricular fibroblasts was measured by assaying the incorporation rate of ［3H］-proline, whereas the proliferation of ventricular fibroblasts was assessed by determining the incorporation rate of ［3H］-TdR and the expression of c-fos genes. FCGM significantly increased the ［3H］-proline incorporation rate and ［3H］-TdR incorporation rate of fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, FCGM promoted the c-fos gene expression of fibroblasts, which attained its maximum in 1 h. BQ123, an ETA receptor antagonist, partially blocked the above effects of FCGM, but AT1 receptor antagonist CV11974 and α-adrenergic receptor antagoist regitin did not. It is suggested that the ventricular fibroblast has an autorine function in promotion of collagen synthesis and proliferation of fibroblasts by secreting endothelin and other bioactive substances.

Using cell culture, radioimmunoassay for endothelin and RT-PCR, the effect of aldosterone on the endothelin secretion of ventricular fibroblasts was studied. The results showed that aldosterone (1×10－7 mol/L) promoted the expression of ppET-1 mRNA, which began to increase in 2 hours and attained the highest level in 4 hours, thereafter decreased; aldosterone increased the endothelin level in ventricular fibroblasts and fibroblast conditioned growth medium (FCGM) as well, which was blocked by spironolactone (1×10－6 mol/L), an aldosterone receptor antagonist. The results suggest that aldosterone can increase endothelin secretion by ventricular fibroblasts, which can be inhibited by its receptor antagonist spironolactone.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of L-arginine, a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, on protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS), nitrite/nitrate content, protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in cardiac tissues in renovascular hypertensive rats (RHR). The Goldblatt renovascular hypertensive model was established by two-kidney one clip method. The rats were divided into four groups, respectively treated with 50, 150 and 450 mg/kg L-arginine and 150 mg/kg L-arginine plus 10 mg/kg L-NAME (an eNOS inhibitor) (ip). Another group did not receive specific treatment from the 5th week after renal artery constriction. Control group was sham-operated. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight (LVW/BW) were measured 8 weeks after treatment. eNOS protein expression, nitrite/nitrate content, MKP-1 protein expression and MAPK activity in cardiac tissues were detected using Western blot analysis, enzyme-reduction method and substrate in-gel kinase assay, respectively. It was found that L-arginine significantly inhibited the increase of MABP and LVW/BW, attenuated the activity of MAPK, increased protein expression of eNOS and MKP-1 and potentiated production of NO in cardiac tissue with the most effective dosage of 150 mg/kg, and these effects of L-arginine could be inhibited by L-NAME. These results suggest that MKP-1 may play an important role in the NO-induced inhibition of myocardial hypertrophy. The anti-hypertrophic effects of L-arginine may involve increase of eNOS protein expression and NO production, poten- tiation of MKP-1 protein expression, and inhibition of MAPK activity in the cardiac tissue of RHR.

Objective To discuss the efficacy of Leucogen tablets treatment lessen the hematological reaction and raise the efficacy therapy of interferon in chronic hepatitis B treated with PEG-αinterferon and α interferon.Methods A total of 395 patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) inpatients from January 2002 to February 2011.Group:All the patients were assigned to A or B according as during the treatment added Leucogen tablets or not.Results ( 1 ) All of 35.9％ patients had neutrophil counts decrease under 1 × 109/L,A group had 29.6％,B had 42.8％ patients,P =0.01 ;neutrophil counts≤0.75 × 109/L A group had 12.6％,B group had 26.4％,P =0.02; neutrophil counts≤ 0.5 × 109/L A group had 4.8 ％,B group had 16.4％,P =0.04.(2) A group had 8.2％ patients interferon-α dose decreased,all the patient finished the period of therapy.B group had 23.3％ patients interferon-α dose decreased,2.1％ of patients had paused.A group had 40.3％ of patients interferon-α beyond conventional dose,B group had only 5.2％.(3)All of 9.8％ patients had hematoblast decrease under 100 × 109/L,A group had 8.7％,B had 11.1％ patients;hematoblast≤ 80 × 109/L A group had 5.3％,B group had 7.9％ ;hematoblast ≤ 50 × 109/L A group had 1.0％,B group had 2.6％.A group had the trend of reducing hematoblast decrease.(4) At the end of therapy A group had 67.4％ patients HBVDNA ＜ 100IU/ml,54.3％ e antigen negative,40.7％ e antigen conversed; B group had 53.9％,41.2％,26.9％,P was respectively 0.02,0.01,0.01.Conclusion Leucogen tablets treatment and prevention interferon-α-related neutrophil counts hematological reaction in CHB treated with a-interferon,and had the trend of reducing interferon-αrelated hematoblast decrease,farther improved the efficacy of α-interferon treatment CHB.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on transduction of the PI3K/ AKT signal in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the role played by AFP in resistance to cytotoxicity of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA).

METHODSThe effects of ATRA of human liver cancer cells was assessed using the BEL-7402 cell line with the MTT assay (to evaluate proliferation), microscopy (to evaluate morphology), flow cytometry (to evaluate apoptosis), laser confocal microscopy and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP; to evaluate co-localization and interaction of AFP with PTEN), Western blotting (to evaluate expression of phosphorylated-protein kinase B (pAKT) and Src, and RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of AFP. Finally, application of the PI3K-specific inhibitor Ly294002 was used to monitor the influence of AFP in transduction of the PI3K signal pathway.

RESULTSThe human hepatoma cell line BEL-7402 were resistant to ATRA cytotoxicity. PTEN and AFP co-localized in the cytoplasm, and co-IP indicated that AFP interacts with PTEN in BEL-7402 cells.RNAi knockdown of AFP expression led to reduced growth of BEL-7402 cells.BEL-7402 cells transfected with AFP-short interfering (si)RNA vectors showed enhanced sensitivity to ATRA and reduced expression of pAKT(Ser473) and Src; Ly294002 reduced the role of AFP in stimulating expression of pAKT(Ser473) and Src.

CONCLUSIONAFP can activate transduction of the PI3K/AKT signal, and expression of AFP in hepatoma cells is a pivotal event for resisting ATRA-induced apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transfection ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the altering rule of coagulation function at molecular level in patients with secondary brain injury (SBI).

METHODSTissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were studied in 32 patients 1, 2, 3 and 7 days after craniocerebral injury. Repeated cranial CT scans and platelet counts were made simultaneously. Same measurements were done in 30 normal adults except CT scan.

RESULTSNo obvious difference was found in age, sex and platelet count between the injured and the normal groups. TFPI/TF decreased markedly in the first week after injury in patients with SBI, but only decreased on the 7th day in the patients without obvious SBI. For the patients who developed delayed intracranial hematoma (DIH) or hematoma enlargement, TF rose only 1 and 2 days after injury, but TFPI had a tendency to rise again after a fall on the 3rd day. For those patients who developed no DIH, TF rose all the time within the 1st week.

CONCLUSIONSDecrease of TFPI/TF for a long time, especially within 3 days after injury, may be one of the most important reasons for SBI. High expression of TF for a relative short time and increase of TFPI after a fall within 3 days may be one of the important reasons for DIH or hematoma enlargement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anticoagulants ; blood ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; blood ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Thromboplastin ; analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo create a standard mini-swine model of chronic ischemic myocardium by endoscopy for the research of gene transfer and stem cell.

METHODSTwenty-three male China experimental minipigs were used, aged from 8 to 11 months with a mean of (9.3 +/- 1.8) months and weighed from 20 to 30 kg with a mean of (29.3 +/- 4.3) kg. The myocardial ischemia was established by gradual occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) with an Ameroid constrictor. The Ameroid constrictor was implanted around LCX by endoscopy. Selective coronary angiography, electrocardiogram and Echo-Doppler study were performed perioperatively to evaluate the degree of stenosis.

RESULTSChronic ischemic myocardial models were successfully generated in 20 of 23 swine by full-endoscopy. Ameroid constrictors were placed at the LCX accurately. Three swine died of anesthetic accident, cardiac arrhythmia at secondary coronary angiography, and pulmonary infection within 6 weeks after operation respectively. Operation time was 25 to 65 min with a mean of (46 +/- 9) min. The blood loss was 30 to 60 ml with a mean of (55 +/- 12) ml. Six weeks later, coronary angiography revealed the total occlusion and partial stenosis (> 85%) of the LCX occurred in 7 and 13 swine respectively. Cardiac systolic and diastolic dysfunction were found in all swine. The ejection fraction value was (65.0 +/- 6.3)% before operation and (41.0 +/- 9.3)% after operation (P = 0.008). The fractional shortening value was (36.2 +/- 4.3)% before operation and (34.2 +/- 2.3)% after operation (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONThe endoscopic surgery is a less invasive way to create a standard mini-swine model of chronic ischemic myocardium with effective results.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Feasibility Studies ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Thoracoscopes

INTRODUCTION: The impact of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) on the risk of malignancy (ROM) in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) per The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology has not been well reported in Singapore. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 821 thyroid nodules with preoperative FNAC from 788 patients out of 1,279 consecutive thyroidectomies performed between January 2010 and August 2016 in a tertiary general hospital in Singapore. Possible cases of NIFTP were reviewed for reclassification and the impact of NIFTP on ROM was analysed. RESULTS: The incidence of NIFTP was 1.2% (10 out of 821). If NIFTP is considered benign, ROM in Bethesda I through VI were 8.6%, 3.5%, 26.3%, 20.0%, 87.7%, 97.0% versus 8.6%, 4.2%, 28.1%, 26.7%, 89.2% and 100% if NIFTP is considered malignant. Eight patients with NIFTP had follow-up of 15 to 110 months. One had possible rib metastasis as evidenced by I131 uptake but remained free of structural or biochemical disease during a follow-up period of 110 months. None had lymph node metastasis at presentation, nor locoregional or distant recurrence. CONCLUSION Classifying NIFTP as benign decreased ROM in Bethesda II through VI, but the benignity of NIFTP requires more prospective studies to ascertain. The impact of NIFTP on ROM in our institution also appears to be lower than that reported in the Western studies.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology*