Gene Targeting ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; pharmacology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pathogenic causes of community acquired pneumonia(CAP) in the elderly and to guide experience antibiotic therapy.METHODS An etiological study was performed on 204 elder patients with CAP in the Cadres Medical Department of Beijing Shijitan Hospital from May 2005 to Apr 2008.The count scores were by CURB-65 scoring system.RESULTS Pathogens were identified in 204 patients: there were Mycoplasma pneumoniae(42,20.6%),Streptococcus pneumoniae(30,14.7%),Haemophilus influenzae(24,11.8%),Chlamydia pneumoniae(17,8.3%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(14,6.9%),Escherichia coli(7,3.4%),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(5,2.5%),Staphylococcus aureus(4,2.0%),Legionella pneumophila(2,1.0%),and Acinetobacter baumannii(1,0.5%).The score,by CURB-65 scoring system,of mixed infected patients was higher than single infections.CONCLUSIONS Atypical pathogens have important role in elderly CAP,the most common pathogenare Gram-negative bacilli,S.aureusand fungi.Mixed infection couldn′t be ignored.

To explore the effect of quercetin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HeLa cells, HeLa cells were incubated with quercetin at different concentrations. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, cell apoptosis was detected by Annexin-V/PI double labeled cytometry and DNA ladder assay. Cell cycle was flow cytometrically determined and the morphological changes of the cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope after Hoechst 33258 staining and the apoptosis-related proteins in the HeLa cells were assessed by Western blotting. The results showed that quercetin significantly inhibited the growth of HeLa cells and induced obvious apoptosis in vitro in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, quercetin induced apoptosis of HeLa cells in cell cycle-dependent manner because quercetin could induce arrest of HeLa cells at G0/G1 phase. Quercetin treatment down-regulated the expression of the PI3K and p-Akt. In addition, quercetin could down-regulate expression of bcl-2, up-regulate Bax, but exerted no effect on the overall expression of Akt. We are led to conclude that quercetin induces apoptosis via PI3k/Akt pathways, and quercetin has potential to be used as an anti-tumor agent against human cervix cancer.

Objective: By observing the differences in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores in moxibustion treatment for moderate-to-severe primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with moxa of different storage years (3-year moxa and 1-year moxa from Qichun, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, China) through a randomized clinical trial, to objectively evaluate the differences in therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion with moxa of different storage years. Methods: A total of 63 patients with moderate-to-severe KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into moxibustion group 1 and moxibustion group 2 by central randomization method, with 32 cases in moxibustion group 1 and 31 cases in moxibustion group 2. Moxibustion group 1 was treated with moxa stored for 3 years, and moxibustion group 2 was treated with moxa stored for 1 year. Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4) and Heding (EX-LE 2) were selected in both groups, and the treatment lasted 20 min per time, 3 times a week. The immediate efficacy was compared after 6 times of treatment, and long-term efficacy was compared at follow-up 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: During the treatment, there were 2 dropouts in moxibustion group 1, and 1 dropout in moxibustion group 2. The total effective rate in the two groups was 83.3％ and 60.0％, respectively. Followed up at 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.0％ and 66.7％, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (both P>0.05). After treatment and 4 weeks after the end of treatment, the WOMAC and VAS scores in both groups decreased significantly compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of stiffness item of WOMAC in moxibustion group 1 were lower than those in moxibustion group 2 (both P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the scores of pain item and dysfunction item of WOMAC, and VAS scores between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion with moxa of different storage years (stored for 3 years and 1 year) both can improve the pain, stiffness and motor function in patients with moderate-to-severe KOA. While moxa stored for 3 years has a better therapeutic efficacy in improving stiffness of the knee joint than that stored for 1 year.

Objective To determine if fetal stem cells can enter the maternal circulation during pregnancy and re-pair the injuries of maternal heart.Methods C57 female mice at the age of 6-8 weeks were randomly assigned to three groups:sham control, surgery without pregnancy, and surgery with pregnancy ( n=8,eath group) .The control sham group was developed by opening and closing of the chest.The other two groups underwent heart surgery.The myocardial infarc-tion ( MI) model was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery.Half of the surgical mice mated with e-GFP transgenic male mice, and another half group was not.Electrocardiogram ( ECG) and echocardiographic images were recorded at pre-operation, post-operation and postpartum.The collected data were used to evaluate the heart function. The GFP expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and q-PCR.Results When compared with the sham group, both the ischemia surgery groups with and without pregnancy, the ECG ST segment was significantly increased.This meas-urement indicated that the myocardial ischemia surgery was successful, and no significant difference in the ST segments be-tween two ischemia surgery groups was found.However, when ECG was measured in the surgical mice after postpartum, their myocardial ischemia was dramatically improved when compared with that of the ischemia surgery only mice.Echocar-diographic images also indicated that both the surgery groups had myocardial ischemia, however, no significant difference was observed in the pregnant mice before and after postpartum.The order of the cardiac function indexes from high to low was the sham group, surgery with pregnancy group, and surgery with no pregnancy group;in particular, the cardiac func-tion of pregnancy group was significantly enhanced compared with that of the surgery with no pregnancy group (P<0.05). More importantly, both immunofluorescence and q-PCR results showed that the embryonic stem cell translocation through circulation system with GFP expression in the heart of pregnancy group, while negative in other two groups.Conclusions Embryonic stem cells can be transferred into the maternal circulation of pregnant mice, and play a role in the repairing of their cardiac injuries.

BACKGROUND: The structural and functional impairment of endothelium cells were mainly presented by lowered endothelium activity, reduced nitrogen monoxide production, as well as increased endothelium vasoconstrictor peptide (EVCP).OBJECTIVE: To study the protective role of astragalus polysaccharide on atherosclerosis induced by eudothelium cell injury, which was compared with that of Captopril.DESIGN: Randomly controlled observation.SETTING: Department of Physiology, Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Department of Pathophysiology, Medical College of Wuhan University;Department of Surgery,Hetang Hospital of Guangdong Province;Department of Endocrinopathic Sciences,Renmin Hospital,Wuhan University.MATERIALS: The study was carried out at the Organic Function Laboratory of Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Pathophysiological Department of Wuhan Medical University from July 2001 to December 2002. Forty healthy male rabbits provided by the experimental animal center of Wuhan medical university, weighed of 2.4-3.0 kg, were randomly divided into blank group,model control group,astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group with 10 rabbits in each group.Astragalus polysaccharide was extracted from Shanxi produced astragalus root and made into injection powder that should be freshly composed with physical saline before usage.METHODS: Rabbits in blank group were raised with granular feed, while rabbits in other three groups were given hyperlipid feed (80％ basal feed mixed with 15％ yolk powder, 0.5％ cholesterin and 5％ lard), in addition with venous injection of bovine serum by 1 mL/kg once, atherosclerosis induced endothelium injury model was established on rabbit by hyperlipid feed combined with immune injury. Rabbits in astragalus polysaccharide group received intraperitoneal injection of polysaccharide of 500 mg/kg once a day; which replaced by 5 mg/kg captopril in captopril group that equals to 5 times clinical dosage; While rabbits in blank group and model control group were given the same volume physical saline of 4 mL/kg for totally 50 days. Blood were collected from SVC 24 after the last medication and then rabbits were put to death, the morphological changes of abdominal aorta were observed under optical microscope, meanwhile the changes of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, nitrogen monoxide, EVCP, superoxide dismutase, malonaldehyde and total antioxidation activity were examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Morphological changesof abdominal aorta. ② Changes of serum parameters.RESULTS: All 40 rabbits complete the experiment without loss. ① In contrast with model control group group, the total serum total cholesterol and triglycerides in astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group obviously decreased [(9.33±1.13), (6.60±0.61), (7.09±0.74) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.05;(3.05±0.44), (1.26±0.16), (2.17±0.46) mmol/L, P ＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.05],malonaldehyde and EVCP markedly decreased [(9.98 ± 1.11 ), (7.10 ±0.68),(9.46±1.27) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01; (741.90±34.98), (632.62±26.95),(600.74±32.59) ng/L, P ＜ 0.01]. ② Comparing to model control group group,the serum nitrogen monoxide and superoxide dismutase were obviously increased in astragalus polysaccharide group and captopril group ·[(11.04±1.68),(19.96±6.05), (18.35±3.52) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05; (159.32±5.26),(207.54±16.98), (197.59±28.41) NU/mL, P ＜ 0.0l, P ＜ 0.05], the total antioxidation activity also increased [(23.8±3.5), (34.7±5.6), (30.7±6.8)％,P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05]. ③ Either the decrement of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and malonaldehyde or the increment of nitrogen monoxide, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidation activity in astragalus polysaccharide group was greater than captopril group (P ＜ 0.01). ④ Morphological changes of abdominal aorta: The aorta intima was smooth and endothelium cells were continuous with small intervals between cells in blank control group,endothelium cells presented normal configuration without edema;while intima in model control group became thick and upheaved, part of endothelinm cells detached with widened intervals. The media became thickened with leiomyocyte displaying hyperplasic and infiltering into endothelium, foaming cells could also be observed; the aorta intima was smooth and endothelium was closely connected in astragalus polysaccharide group, the hyperplasia of leiomyocyte was not active and foaming cells seldom observed; while in captopril group, the aorta intima was smooth without obvious detachment of endothelium cells and infiltration of leiomyocyte, leiomyocytes were normal and ranked orderly.CONCLUSION:Astragalus polysaccharide could markedly eliminate serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, malonaldehyde and EVCP, thereby alleviate vascular impairment induced by EVCP, meanwhile markedly increased serum nitrogen monoxide, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidation activity, the intima surface of abdominal aorta could be smooth due to the administration of AP, endothelium configuration would be basically complete, implying that it has better antioxidation property and protective role for endothelium cells.

Objective To investigate the influence of BK virus (BKV) activation in renal transplant recipients on the renal allograft function.Method Recipients receiving renal transplantation during 2010.3-2011.4 were sdected as objectives,the urine and peripheral blood samples of them were taken and real-time PCR assays were performed to detect BKV DNA at 0.5,1,3,6,9,and 12 months post-transplantation.Results Among 88 recipients,BKV viruria occurred in 27 (30.68％) patients,and sustained viruria occurred in 17 patients.37.0％ (10/27) of patients with BKV viruria developed inot BKV viremia,and sustained viremia occurred in 5 patients.The viral load in plasma was higher in patients with sustained viremia than in those with transient viremia (P＜0.05),and serum creatinine concentrations were higher when BK viremia occurred (P＜0.05).Conclusion Graft function was impaired among patients with BK viremia,and regularly monitoring BK virus in renal transplant recipients and clinical imervention based on plasma PCR results can prevent transplant kidney damage effectively.

Objective To explore the effects of different operations on respiratory function after colon replacement for esophageal cancer.Methods Fourty patients with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy from May 2004 to June 2008,were retrospectively analyzed.The site of esophageal anastomosis was at neck after sternum in 20 cages.at neck through esophageal bed in other 20 cages.Blood gas analysis and pulmonary fuction were monitored in these patients before operation and in 14 days after operation.Results VC% were (42.17±10.15)%、(49.52±9.56)%、(55.67±10.73)%、(60.27±10.52)%in patients after sternum and(37.65±9.52)%、(40.72±10.12)%、(47.02±10.65)%、(52.89±10.82)%in patients through esophageal bed in 5th、7th、10th、14th postoperative day with sigllificant statistical difference;FEV_1% were(60.55±16.71)%、(67.12±16.90)%in patients after sternum and(45.23±16.26)%、(50.52±16.72)%in patients through esophageal bed in 10th、14th postoperative day with significant statistical difference;PaO_2 were(17.56±7.32)mm Hg、(19.67±6.08)mm Hg、(17.17±4.85)mm Hg、(15.43±5.02)mm Hg、(11.32±3.79)mm Hg、(9.67±2.87)mm Hg、(6.98±3.26)mm Hg in patients after sternum and(20.17±7.04)mm Hg、(22.83±6.75)mm Hg、(20.67±4.31)mm Hg、(18.32±4.85)mm Hg、(16.02±3.71)mm Hg、(13.44±2.56)mm Hg、(9.01±3.17)mm Hg in patients through esophageal bed in 1st,2nd,3rd,5th,7th,10th,14th postoperative day with significant statistical difference. Conclusions After esophagectomy,esophageal anastomosis through esophageal bed has significant negative effect on respiratory function.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; complications ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged

Chemical investigation of the whole plants of Valeriana hardwickii has led to the isolation of 11 flavones and 2 monoterpe- noids by using various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, preparative TLC, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis as syzalterin (1), 6-methylapigenin (2), 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (3), genkwanin (4), acacetin (5), apigenin (6), quercetin (7), tricin (8), (-)-farrerol (9), sosakuranetin (10), 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (11), (-)-bornyl ferulate ( 12) , and (-)-bornyl caffeate ( 13). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, while compounds 1, 9-13 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Valerian ; chemistry