Although current synthetic anti-gout drugs have significant therapeutic effects in reducing serum uric acid levels, they have serious side effects such as allergic reactions and liver and kidney damage. Natural products with a wide range of uric acid-lowering and high safety have played a critical role in anti-gout drug discovery and development. This paper reviews the natural products with uric acid-lowering or anti-gout pharmacological effects and the investigation on their mechanisms of action, to provide information for drug discovery and development.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of renal hemodynamic and the esoteric prostacyclin(PGI2),thromboxane A2(TXA2)level in children with early Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP),and study the function of TXB_2/6-Keto-prostaglandin F(6-Keto-PGF_(1?))(T/K)numerus in early changes of kidney injury.Methods Children involved in the experiment were dicided into 3 groups.Thirty-one patients with HSP,divided into 2 groups according to routine urianlysis:children with HSP without renal damage group(n=16)and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)group(n=15).Control group with 16 healthy children,their age and sex match with the other 2 groups.The urine of all children,including the children in control group,was sampled in 24 hours.The urinary production of the samples were kept in the freezer at-20 ℃.The radioimmunoassay was applied to determine the 6-Keto-PGF_(1?),TXB_2 quantitatively,and calculate the number of T/K.In the early morning the children accept the Doppler arteria renalis sonography with an empty stomach to determine the Vmax of the period of contraction of the arteria renalis the Vmin of diastolic phase and the resistent index(RI).SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results 1.The renal hemodynamic indicated a change of high velocity and resistance,the masculine rate(83.9%)was ob-viously higher than that in routine urinalysis(48.4%)(?2=5.79 P0.05).The RI in the former group(0.798?0.165)was much higher than that in the other one(0.637?0.116)(t=4.02 P

Objective To investigate the methods ofmicrosurgical treatment of Arnold-Chiari Ⅰ malformation combined with syringomyelia and their curative effects.Methods The clinical data of 185 patients with Arnold-Chiari Ⅰ malformation combined with syringomyelia,admitted to our hospital from January 1997 to June 2010 and received different surgical treatments,were summarized.The relationship between curative effects and operative methods were analyzed.Results When these 185 patients were discharged from our hospital,the clinical signs and symptoms eliminated in 156 (84.3％)and not changed in 29; no symptomatic deterioration and death were noted.One hundred and forty-seven patients were followed up for 3 months-12 years; symptoms disappeared or alleviated in 110 (74.8％),not changed in 26 and deteriorated in 11.The MR findings in 95 patients demonstrated that the cisternals reconstructed and expanded in 82 and the cavities in spinal cords reduced in 79.Conclusion Both posterior fossa decompression + duraplasty and removal of cerebella tonsils + plastic operation of cistern magna are effective and advisable methods in the treatment of Arnold-Chiari Ⅰ malformation combined with syringomyelia.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To describe the therapeutic effect and possibility of the ultra-early surgery for poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt-Hess grades IV - V). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine cases with intracranial aneurysms, demonstrated by computed tomographic angiography (CTA), were treated by ultra-early surgery under general anesthesia within 24 hours from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 5 cases were treated within 6 hours and 4 cases in 6 - 24 hours. Preoperative Hunt-Hess grade: 6 cases were IV and 3 cases were V. The clinical outcome was evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS). RESULTS: In operation, difficult dissection occurred in 5 cases (55.6%), and rupture of aneurysm occurred and temporary obstructions were performed in 4 cases (44.4%). After clipping of aneurysm, 2 cases underwent V-P shunt because of hydrocephalus, pulmonary infection occurred in 3 cases, hypothalamus reaction accompanied with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 2 cases. The clinical outcome were favorable (GOS 4 - 5) in 4 cases (44.4%), dissatisfied (GOS 2 - 3) in 3 cases (33.3%), and dead (GOS 1) in 2 cases (22.2%) when patients departed from our hospital. CONCLUSION: The ultra-early surgery can avoid early rebleeding of intracranial aneurysm, therefore, should be considered in the treatment of Hunt-Hess grade IV-V intracranial aneurysms. The appliance of CTA can make it possible to use of ultra-early surgery and improve the therapeutic effect.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/pathology/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphology alterations and proteomics changes in primary astrocytes following fluid percussion injury.

METHODSPrimary cultures of astrocytes were prepared from cerebral hemispheres of 1-3 d-old SD rats, then, astrocytes were randomly divided into control group and injury group which were subjected to (0.2 +/- 0.01) MPa fluid percussion injury. The changes of protein expression pattern in astrocytes between injury and control groups were monitored with two dimensional gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSAstrocytes' s abnonmalities of morphology after injury were apparent. The fluid percussion injury caused astrocytes edema, shrinkage, cell junction disconnection and necrosis at 2 h after injury. 24 h and 48 h after injury, most part of astrocytes's dendrites and soma became hypertrophy and showed a higher rate of cell proliferation. The dynamic proteomics changes were identified and total different 13 spots were detected in this study from the 2DE gels. The different displayed 5 spots were identified via MALDI-TOF: cofilin 1, destrin, phosphoglycerate mutase 1, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 alpha subcomplex 10, annexin 1.

CONCLUSIONThe obvious alteration of morphology and protein expression pattern in primary cultured astrocytes could be induced after fluid percussion injury. The differential proteins detected were probably related to stress responses.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Female ; Male ; Primary Cell Culture ; methods ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of bridging fixation with locking plate for the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2014,18 cases of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture were treated by open reduction and bridging fixation with locking plate through proximal and distal approach including 16 males and 2 females with an average age of 41 years old ranging from 22 to 67 years old. Among them, 12 cases caused by traffic accident, 5 cases by falling, 1 case by heavy aboving. All cases were fresh and closed fractures. Time between injury and operation was from 4 to 9 days with an average of 6.2 days. Of them, 11 cases were fixed with reverse LISS and the other 7 cases were fixed with anatomical locking plates of proximal femur.

RESULTSThe mean time of operation was 110 min (ranged from 90 to 155 min). The mean blood loss during operation was 425 ml (ranged from 350 to 650 ml) and 16 cases got blood transfusion which was meanly 300 ml. The mean hospital time was 14 days (ranged from 12 to 18 days). The mean duration of followed up was 11.8 months (ranged from 8 to 22 months). The mean time of bone union was 6.6 months (ranged from 5 to 8 months). There was not any complication such as infection, implant failure, hip varus, external rotation deformity of low limb or fat embolism. The Sanders hip scores were 53.22 ± 6.48, the result was excellent in 12 cases and good in 6 cases at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONUnder the principle of biological osteosynthesis, treatment of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture with bridging locking plate fixation has such advantages as high mechanism, less interference of blood supply, stable fixation and little complication. It is a safe and idea way for the treatment of the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference of expression of proteins between the serum and hippocampus after brain injury in rats. METHODS: Male SD rats were used to establish brain injury model. The changes of proteins expression profile in serum and hippocampus at different time after brain injury were analyzed using weak cationic exchanger (WCX2) chips and immobilized metal affinity capture arrays-Cu (IMAC-Cu) chips by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A total of 436 protein peaks were detected in serum and 346 protein peaks were detected in hippocampus using WCX2 chips. A total of 229 protein peaks were detected in serum and 345 protein peaks were detected in hippocampus using IMAC-Cu chips. The same 10 protein peaks were respectively detected in serum and hippocampus using WCX2 chips. The same 13 protein peaks were respectively detected in serum and hippocampus using IMAC-Cu chips. CONCLUSION The changes of protein expression profile in serum and hippocampus are obvious after closed brain injury and show a significant difference. The different proteins detected in serum and hippocampus using the same chip could be biochemical markers for determining brain injury.
Animals ; Blood Proteins/analysis* ; Brain/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Head Injuries, Closed/metabolism* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Protein Array Analysis/methods* ; Proteins/metabolism* ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

BACKGROUNDToll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) is integrally involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) signaling and has a requisite role in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). The exact mechanisms that lend perfluorocarbon (PFC) liquids a cytoprotective effect have yet to be elucidated. Therefore we examined in an in vitro model the cytoprotective effect of PFC on LPS-stimulated alveolar epithelial cellls (AECs).

METHODSAECs (A549 cells, human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) were divided into four groups: control, PFC, LPS and LPS + PFC (coculture group) groups. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was detected by ELISA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected by radioimmunological methods. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA and protein was detected by real time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The activation of NF-κB was detected by Western blotting (proteins of I-κBa and NF-κB p65).

RESULTSICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly increased in LPS-stimulated AECs groups. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA and protein in LPS-stimulated groups was markedly increased. Meanwhile, NF-κB was activated as indicated by the significant degradation of IκB-α and the significant release of NF-κB P65 and its subsequent translocation into the nucleus. There were no significant effects of PFC alone on any of the factors studied while the coculture group showed significant downregulation of the secretion of ICAM-1, TNF-α and IL-8, the expression of TLR-4 mRNA and the activity of NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONSTaken together, our results demonstrate that LPS can induce AEC-related inflammatory injury via the activation of TLR-4 and subsequent activation of NF-κB. PFC is able to protect AECs from LPS-induced inflammatory injury by blocking the initiation of the LPS signaling pathway, which is indicated by the significant decrease of TLR-4 expression and NF-κB activation.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Fluorocarbons ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; immunology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the techniques and curative effects of laminoplasty via posternmedial approach in treating C1-2 instraspinal neoplasms.Methods Twenty-seven patients (15males and 12 females) with C1-2 instraspinal neoplasms,admitted to and performed laminoplasty via posternmedial approach in our hospital from January 2007 to December 2011,were chosen in our study.Their clinical data and treatment efficacy were summarized.Results Total excision was achieved in all patients,and no patient in this study died.Pathological diagnosis showed 21 having schwannoma,1 neurofibroma and 5 meningioma.Follow up for 6-48 months indicated that 1 patient could take care of himself and the other 26 patients could live normally.No cervical spine instability or tumor recurrence was found.Conclusion Posternmedial approach may be regarded as the first selection to resect C1-2instraspinal neoplasms; laminoplasty can keep the stability of spine.