AIM:To study the role of Rhodiolae rosae in post myocardial infarction angiogenesis and its effect on extracellular regulated kinases(ERK 1/2). METHODS: The experimental myocardial infarction was made by ligation of rat left anterior descending coronary artery,and then divided into Rhodiolae group and saline group.The sham operation group and normal group were also made as control one.On the first,the 4th,the 7th and the(14th) day after the operation,rats were sacrificed and infarcted border tissue or normal tissue were used to test VEGF receptor Ⅱ and CD34 expression level and ERK 1/2 activity level. RESULTS: ERK 1/2 activity level from the first to the 4th day,VEGF receptor Ⅱ and CD34 expression level from the 4th to the 14th day after the operation,were all higher in the Rhodiolae group than that in the saline group. CONCLUSION: Rhodiolae rosae can elevate ERK 1/2 activity which was related to and prior to its angiogenic effect.

Objective Explore a new method which application absorbable suture netting for chest wall reconstruction and observe the clinical effect.Methods For 23 cases of part of the rib resection,support the soft tissue using absorbable suture netting and observe the postoperative results.Results 23 patients have the postoperative respiratory stability and no abnormal breathing and chest wall collapse happened.And this method has a good effect to support the Chest wall.Conclusion Chest wall reconstruction using absorbable suture netting has the following advantages:easily obtained,easy to learn to promote,low prices and postoperative respiratory stability.We believe this method is a new technology deserved to be promoted in our country.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and its receptor CC chemokine receptor-2 (CCR-2) in coronary atherosclerosis plaques between sidden coronary death (SCD) and non-SCD. Methods The expression levels of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in SCD group, coronary atherosclerosis group (non-SCD), control group (normal coronary artery) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Positive rates of MCP-1 among the three groups were 78%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between each two groups (P<0.05). Positive rates of CCR-2 among three groups were 72%, 47%, and 0%, respectively, with significant expressing differences between the SCD group and coronary atherosclerosis group as well as between the SCD group and control group (P<0.05), but with no significant expressing difference between coronary atherosclerosis group and control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Overexpression of MCP-1 and CCR-2 in coronary atherosclerotic plaques is closely correlated with SCD.
Chemokine CCL2/metabolism* ; Coronary Artery Disease/pathology* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Receptors, CCR2/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo establish the biological exposure limit values of urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) for assessing occupational exposure to benzene.

METHODSStudy participants were selected from 55 workers of benzene exposures below 32.5 mg/m(3). The concentration of personal exposure to benzene was measured by gas chromatography and sampled with personal sampler. The urine samples were collected at the end of work shift and individual internal exposure level was evaluated by determination of SPMA in urine by HPLC/MS method. Comparison of external and internal exposure was assessed by the relative internal exposure (RIE) index.

RESULTSThe benzene exposure level ranged from 0.71 to 32.17 mg/m(3) (geometric mean 6.98 mg/m(3), median 7.50 mg/m(3)). The urinary SPMA at the end of the work shift were significantly correlated with benzene exposure, (microg/g Cr) = -8.625 + 18.367X (mg/m(3)), r = 0.8035, (P < 0.01). According to the occupational exposure limit for benzene in China and calculation of regression equation, the expected value of urinary SPMA was 101.58 microg/g Cr. Mean level of biotransformation of per mg/m(3) benzene to urinary SPMA was 18.23 microg/g Cr and the metabolic efficiencies of benzene transformation to urinary SPMA decreased with benzene exposure increased.

CONCLUSIONBased on abroad documents and data, biological limit value for occupational exposure to benzene in China is recommended as follows: 100 microg/g Cr (47 micromol/mol Cr) for SPMA in the urine at the end of shift.

Acetylcysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Adult ; Benzene ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Benzene Derivatives ; urine ; China ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Threshold Limit Values ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate the effect of PPARgamma activators on inhibition of cardiac non myocytes (CNM) proliferation and the PPARgamma-dependent pathway possibly involved.

METHODSAngiotensin II was used to induce proliferation of primarily cultured CNM from neonatal rats, and pioglitazone or 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) was applied to these CNM in various dosages in vitro. MTT assay and 3H-TdR uptake were determined to estimate proliferation of CNM, and transient transfection of reporter gene containing PPRE from ACO promoter (PPRE-pGL3) with or without PPARgamma expression plasmid (PPARgamma-pSG5) to CNM was performed to determine the control of target-gene transcription.

RESULTSAngiotensin II caused a significant increase in MTT value and 3H-TdR uptake in CNM, which could be significantly reversed by pioglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 in a dose-dependent manner. Transient cotransfection of PPRE-pGL3 with PPARgamma-pSG5 to CNM resulted in significant increase in luciferase activity compared with that without PPARgamma-pSG5 cotransfection. Pioglitazone and 15d-PGJ2 induced increase in luciferase activity also in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONPioglitazone and 15d-PGJ2, as the activators of PPARgamma, inhibit proliferation of CNM from neonatal rats, the effect may be related to the activation of PPARgamma.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Heart ; Male ; Myocardium ; cytology ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Prostaglandin D2 ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

AIMTo investigate the effects of pioglitazone on cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSAngiotensin II was used to establish hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes and pioglitazone was applied to these myocytes in various dosages in vitro. ANP and BNP mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR, and the rate of protein synthesis in CM by 3H-leucine incorporation in cardiac myocytes. Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced by incomplete ligation of abdominal aorta of rats and pioglitazone (20 mg x kg(-1). day(-1)) was administrated one week prior to the operation until 4 weeks after the operation. Cytokines mRNA expression in left ventricle was measured by RT-PCR, left ventricular wall thickness and myocyte diameter were determined by pathological method.

RESULTSPioglitazone inhibited ANP and BNP mRNA expression and 3H-leucine incorporation in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes induced by angiotensin II in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, pioglitazone reduced the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta and cardiotrophin-1, and inhibited the pressure overload-induced increase in the ratio of heart weight to body weight, left ventricular wall thickness and myocyte diameter of rats in vivo.

CONCLUSIONPioglitazone inhibits cardiac hypertrophy of rats in vitro and in vivo, and may play a role in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases characterized by cardiac hypertrophy in future.

Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the fetal cardiac function in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) pregnancies under different maternal glycemic controls.

METHODSForty four GDM mothers received 78 fetal echocardiographic evaluations at three gestational periods (<28, 28-34 and >34 weeks) and were divided into poorly-(DM1) and well-(DM2) controlled groups according to their glycemic control at examination. Seventy uncomplicated mothers were selected as controls. Parameters of fetal cardiac anatomy and function were measured and analyzed.

RESULTSGDM fetuses' cardiac ventricular walls were thicker than controls', and the differences between DM1 and DM2 were not significant except for end-diastolic left ventricular walls. In both GDM groups, the aortic flow velocities increased earlier than pulmonary artery and DM1 fetuses changed earlier than DM2 ones. GDM fetuses' left atrial shortening fraction was smaller than the controls' in the period of ⩾34 weeks and negatively correlated with thicknesses of left ventricular walls and interventricular septum in DM1 fetuses (r=-0.438 and -0.506). The right ventricular diastolic function in DM1 and DM2 fetuses decreased after the period of 28-34 weeks and in the period of >34 weeks respectively. Tei index of both left and right ventricles increased in DM1 group after the period of <28 weeks and in DM2 group only in the period of ⩾34 weeks, with no significant differences between DM1 and DM2 groups in this period.

CONCLUSIONFetuses of GDM mothers showed cardiac function impairments. Good maternal glycemic control may delay the impairments, but cannot reduce the degree. Some cardiac changes in GDM fetuses were similar to those in pregestational diabetic pregnancies except for several parameters and their changing time.

Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes, Gestational ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Systole ; Ventricular Function

It is now well established that inflammation plays an important role in the development of numerous chronic metabolic diseases including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Skeletal muscle is responsible for 75% of total insulin-dependent glucose uptake; consequently, skeletal muscle IR is considered to be the primary defect of systemic IR development. Our pre- vious study has shown that rutaecarpine (Rut) can benefit blood lipid profile, mitigate inflammation, and improve kidney, liver, pan- creas pathology status of T2DM rats. However, the effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines in the development of IR-skeletal muscle cells have not been studied. Thus, our objective was to investigate effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines interleukiri (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in insulin resistant primary skeletal muscle cells (IR-PSMC). Primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells were prepared from 5 neonate SD rats, and the primary rat skeletal muscle cells were identified by cell morphology, effect of ru- taecarpine on cell proliferation by MTT assay. IR-PSMC cells were induced by palmitic acid (PA), the glucose concentration was measured by glucose oxidase and peroxidase (GOD-POD) method. The effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in IR-PSMC cells were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results show that the primary skeletal muscle cells from neonatal rat cultured for 2-4 days, parallel alignment regularly, and cultured for 7 days, cells fused and myotube formed. It was shown that Rut in concentration 0-180. 0 μmol x L(-1) possessed no cytotoxic effect towards cultured primary skeletal muscle cells. However, after 24 h exposure to 0.6 mmol x L(-1) PA, primary skeletal muscle cells were able to induce a state of insulin resistance. The results obtained indicated significant decrease (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α production by cultured IR-PSMC cells when incubating 24 hours with Rut, beginning from 20 to 180.0 μmol x L(-1). IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in the Rut treated groups were dose-dependently decreased compared with that in the IR-PSMC control group. Our results demonstrated that the Rut promoted glucose consumption and improved insulin resistance possibly through suppression of inflammatory cytokines in the IR-PSMC cells.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Indole Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology ; Rats

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of tolvaptan tablets and furosemide injection in the treatment of heart failure with systolic dysfunction. Methods One hundred and four patients of heart failure with systolic dysfunction were randomly divided into control group (n = 49 cases) and treatment group (n = 55 cases) . Control group received furosemide 40 mg per time, qd, intravenous bolus. Treatment group received tolvaptan 15 mg per time, qd, orally. The clinical efficacy, heart rate, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary pressure and cardiac output, and adverse drug reactions were compared between two groups. Results After treatment, the total effective rates of treatment and control groups were 89. 09％ (49 cases/55 cases) and71. 43％ (35 cases/49 cases) with significant difference (P < 0. 05) .After treatment, the main indexes of treatment and control groups were compared: heart rates were (80. 15 ± 10. 04) and (84. 71 ± 9. 66) beat·min-1, pulmonary artery pressure were (21. 85 ± 4. 49) and (28. 47 ± 4. 46) mm Hg, pulmonary capillary pressure were (11. 24 ± 1. 61) and (15. 18 ± 2. 76) mm Hg, cardiac output were (1. 94 ± 0. 30) and (2. 16 ± 0. 25) L · min-1· m-2, the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0. 05) . The adverse drug reactions of treatment group were increased blood sodium, urinary frequency and dry mouth, which in control group were fatigue, thirst and muscle soreness. The total incidences of adverse drug reactions in the treatment and control groups were 12. 73％ and 12. 24％ without significant difference (P> 0. 05) . Conclusion Tolvaptan tablets have a definitive clinical efficacy in the treatment of heart failure with systolic dysfunction, which can effectively improve the heart rate, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary pressure and cardiac output, without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

This study was to investigate the anti-lymphocytic malignancy immunologic effects induced by two types of the idiotypic nucleic acid vaccines which were constructed from the genomic DNA and RNA of the human B lymphoma cell line respectively. Namalwa cell line and BALB/c mice were used as the models. The gene fragments of the IgH variable region (IgHV), which were obtained from the genomic DNA and RNA of Namalwa cell respectively, were cloned into the eukaryocytic expression vector pcDNA 3.0 to be used as the idiotypic nucleic acid vaccines. After transfecting COS cells with one of vaccines constructed from the genomic DNA by using LipofectAMINE, the result of transcription was identified by using RT-PCR. The experimental mice were immunized by intramuscular injection with two types of vaccines. The specific anti-idiotypic antibody was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that the nucleic acid vaccine constructed from the genomic DNA can be transcribed in COS cells, the transcription product turned shorter, and the intron region of 86 bp was spliced accurately. When immunizing the mice, two vaccines both induced the anti-idiotypic antibody against Namalwa cell, the anti-idiotypic antibody could be detected since detected since after immunization, and got to the peak of titer on the sixth week. It was concluded that the nucleic acid vaccines against lymphoma can be constructed from both the genomic DNA and RNA.
Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; COS Cells ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; immunology ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Time Factors ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology