OBJECTIVESulfur dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide.

RESULTSThe sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling. A disturbed sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, athrosclerosis, spontaneous hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, in experimental studies the prognosis of these cardiovascular diseases can be improved by targeting endogenous sulfur dioxide.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that sulfur dioxide is a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.

Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Sulfur Dioxide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of stenting main vessel on side branches and to compare the different effects on side branches between BMS and DES (Taxus and Cypher).

METHODSWe reviewed the angiograms and the medical records of 183 patients who had received stent implantation in coronary main vessels and had follow-up angiograms. Any side branch was jailed by stent was evaluated.

RESULTSSide branch occlusion occurred in 8.9% in all branches (10.5% in Cypher DES group, 11.1% in Taxus DES group and 7.8% in BMS group). Spontaneous recanalization of side branches was observed in 72% (90.9% in Cypher DES, 66.7% in Taxus stent group and 66.7% in BMS). The ostial side branch stenosis before stenting and the involvement of the side branch origin within the lesion of the parent vessel are the major independent predictors for side branch occlusion.

CONCLUSIONSThe influence of different DES implantations in coronary main vessels on side branches were similar and there was no difference between DES and BMS. Side branch occlusion had relatively benign clinical course. Most occluded side branches had late spontaneous reperfusion.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; surgery ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of the study was to look for the chemical constituents of the herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum. The herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum was extracted with 70% EtOH. The isolation and purification was performed with a combination of multi-column chromatography and the structure was determined by spectral analysis. The flavonoid compound was obtained and elucidated as kaempferol-7-O(4"-(E)-p-coumaroyl-)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It is a new flavonoid compound.
Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Primulaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Geranium eristemon.

METHODChromatography and spectral analysis were used to isolate the constituents and elucidate their structures.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated from acetone extract of the whole grass of G. eristemon, and identified as beta-sitosterol, protocatechuic acid, myricetin, kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-arabifuranoside and kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-arabifuranoside.

CONCLUSIONkaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-arabifuranoside and kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-arabifuranoside were isolated from G. genus for the first time.

Arabinose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Geranium ; chemistry ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Arenaria kansuensis.

METHODColumn chromatographic techniques were applied to isolated constituents. A combination of physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis were used to identify structures of constituents.

RESULTFive compounds were obtained and elucidated as tricin (1), tricin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), tricin 4'-O-beta-guaiacylglyceryl ether (3), isoscoparin (4) and isovitexin (5).

CONCLUSIONCompound 2, 3 and 5 were isolated from A. kansuensis for the first time, compound 3 was obtained from the family Caryophyllaceae for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Arenaria Plant ; chemistry ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tibet

AIM:To investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-199a-5p in myocardial fibrosis and the potential target of miR-199a-5p.METHODS:C57BL/6 mouse cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and cultured for cellular experimen-tal study.Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the interaction between miR-199a-5p and the 3'-untrans-lated region (3'-UTR) of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1).The expression of SIRT1 and fibrosis markers collagen (Col) 1a1, Col3a1 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively.RESULTS:The expression levels of miR-199a-5p, Col1a1, Col3a1 andα-SMA were marked-ly increased in cardiac fibroblasts after treatment with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ).The over-expression of miR-199a-5p signif-icantly increased the expression of Col1a1, Col3a1 andα-SMA in cardiac fibroblasts.Moreover, the results of dual-lucifer-ase reporter assay revealed that miR-199a-5p interacted with the 3'-UTR of SIRT1.miR-199a-5p inhibited SIRT1 expres-sion at post-transcriptional level.Meanwhile, miR-199a-5p mimic, in parallel to SIRT1 siRNA, inhibited SIRT1 expres-sion, increased the expression of Col1a1, Col3a1 and α-SMA in cardiac fibroblasts.Inactivation of NF-κB signaling con-tributed to the decrease in miR-199a-5p in Ang II-treated cardiac fibroblasts .CONCLUSION:SIRT1 is a target gene of miR-199a-5p, which mediates the pro-fibrotic effect of miR-199a-5p on cardiac fibroblasts .

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of BCR/ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCR/ABL360888725-ALL) and screen the prognostic factors for BCR/ABL360888725-ALL.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to May 2008, 59 patients (median age of 32 years ranging from 3 to 69 years) with the diagnosis of BCR/ABL360888725-ALL by fluorescence in situ hybridization received induction chemotherapy with VDLP-/+Ara-C regimen. The patients who failed to respond to the chemotherapy received subsequent consolidation chemotherapy with imatinib (400-800 mg/day) (17 cases) or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) (16 cases).

RESULTSOf the 59 patients, 32 (58.3%) achieved complete remission (CR) after the first induction cycle. In patients with peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count <30=10(9)/L, 30-99.9(9)/L and > or =100(9)/L, the CR rates were 75.0% (18/24), 56.3% (9/15) and 26.3% (5/19) (P=0.006), and the overall survival probability of 2 years ( OSs of 2-yrs) was 24.7%, 22.5% and 21.1%, respectively (P=0.180). According to the FAB classification, 56 cases were divided into L1, L2 and biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) subgroups, and their CR rates were 66.7% (6/9), 63.2% (24/38) and 22.2% (2/9) (P=0.029), with OSs of 2-yrs of 22.2%, 27.0% and 22.0%, respectively (P=0.623). In terms of immunophenotype grouping by EGIL, the patients with ALL, myeloid antigen-positive ALL and BAL had CR rates of 61.1% (11/18), 60.6% (20/33) and 12.5% (1/8) (P=0.039), and the OSs of 2-yrs of 22.7%, 21.0% and 18.8%, respectively (P=0.643). In 55 patients with known karyotype, the CR rates were 71.4%(5/7), 70.8% (17/24) and 37.5% (9/24) in normal, sole t(9;22) abnormality, t(9;22) with additional abnormalities groups (P=0.046), with the OSs of 2-yrs of 42.9%, 34.0% and 7.3%, respectively (P=0.000). The patients complicated by septicemia had significantly lower OSs of 2-yrs than those without septicemia (0% vs 38.8%, P=0.005). The OSs of 2-yrs were significantly higher in patients with consolidation chemotherapy with imatinib than those without (48.0% vs 11.2%, P=0.001), and allo-HSCT was associated with significantly higher OSs of 2-yrs than exclusive chemotherapy (54.2% and 8.5%, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONBCR/ABL360888725-ALL with WBC> or =100 x 10(9)/L, presence of BAL diagnosed by FAB or FACM, t(9;22) with additional chromosome abnormalities all adversely affect the treatment results, and additional chromosome abnormalities and septicemia are associated with lower OSs of 2-yrs. Imatinib treatment and allo-HSCT can both improve the OSs of 2-yrs of the patients with BCR/ABL(+)-ALL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Genes, abl ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; therapy ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

There is a high prevalence of thalassemia in the South of China. To explore the genotype of alpha-thalassemia as well as the distribution of alpha globin gene mutation in the South of China, 356 patients with heterozygote alpha(+) thalassemia, heterozygote alpha(0) or homozygote alpha(+) thalassemia and 78 patients with HbH were analyzed. The gene diagnosis methods including Gap-PCR, nested-PCR, PCR-RE, PCR-SSCP, 4P-ASPCR and DNA sequence analysis were used. The results showed that among 356 patients, 295 patients with --SEA/alphaalpha (82.87%), 1 patient with alphaalpha/alpha-alpha(3.7) (0.28%), 3 patients with alphaalpha/alpha-alpha(4.2) (0.84%), 3 patients with alphaalpha/alpha(CS)alpha (0.84%), 1 patient with alphaalpha/alphaalpha(QS) (0.28%) and 2 patients with alphaalpha/alpha(Westmead) alpha (0.56%) were found. The homozygote with -alpha(4.2) or -alpha(3.7) was not found. In 78 patients with HbH, 29 patients with --SEA/alphaalpha(-3.7) (37.2%), 20 patients with --SEA/alphaalpha(-4.2) (25.6%), 19 patients with --SEA/alphaalpha(CS) (24.3%), 2 patients with --SEA/alphaalpha(QS) (2.6%) were detected, and other remaiming 8 patients were needed to be defined. Among the non-defined 8 patients, the synonymous mutation with C-->G transversion (GCC-GCG) at codon 65 in the exon 2 of alpha 2-globin gene was detected in 2 unrelated HbH patients came from Guangxi province. Whether it correlated with the phenotype of HbH disease or it is only a single nucleotide polymorphism site (SNPs), should be confirmed in the future. In addition, a set of gene diagnosis methods based on PCR to screen deletion and non-deletion genotypes of alpha-thalassemia in Chinese was improved. A new method, 4P-ASPCR, to detect Hb CS and Hb QS was also developed. The method was verified to be more accurate, time-saving and economic. In conclusion, the genotypes of alpha-thalassemia in Chinese are very complicated, the genotypes of alpha-thalassemia in Chinese need to be further studied, the results of this research probably have practical significance for the gene diagnosis or antenatal diagnosis of alpha-thalassemia in the South of China.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Globins ; genetics ; Hemoglobin H ; genetics ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; alpha-Thalassemia ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of cell surface differentiation antigen CD56 and CD11b antigen in acute monocytic leukemic (AML-M(5)) cells and their clinical significance.

METHODSA total of 113 cases of de nove adult AML-M(5) were examined genetically and immunologically using G-banding technique, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) and flow cytometry immunophenotyping, and the results were analyzed in relation to their clinical data.

RESULTSOf the 113 cases, the expression rates of CD56 and CD11b was 28.32% and 73.45%, respectively. The CD56(+) patients had high CD11b expression, and the expression levels of CD11b and CD56 were positively correlated (P<0.05). The incidence of karyotypic abnormalities was 48.57% (55 cases) in these patients, including 25 (22.12%) with 11q23 aberrations. Twenty-five cases were positive for MLL gene abnormalities as found by I-FISH analysis. Compared with the patients positive for both CD56 and CD11b, those negative for both CD56 and CD11b showed increased peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) count and also increased blast and progenitor cells in the bone marrow (P<0.05); the former patients often had karyotypic abnormalities, commonly involving 11q23 aberrations (P<0.05), whereas the latter patients presented more likely with extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia (P<0.01) with lowered complete remission rate and shortened median survival time (P<0.01). CD56-positive patients were more likely to have karyotypic abnormalities and refractory leukemia than CD11b-postive patients (P<0.05), but the peripheral blood WBC counts, bone marrow blast and progenitor cells, extramedullary infiltration, complete remission rate or median survival time showed no significant differences between them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAML-M(5) patients with CD56 positivity and high expression of CD11b often have aberrant karyotypes, commonly involving 11q23/MLL gene abnormality. These patients frequently develop extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia often with poor prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; CD11b Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD56 Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate optimal time for early escharectomy after severe scald in minipigs.

METHODSMinipigs inflicted with 35% TBSA full thickness burn were employed in the study, and they were randomly divided into A (n = 7, with escharectomy at 6PSH), and B (n = 7, with escharectomy at 24 PSH) groups. The hemodynamics indices, hemorrheology, and the serum levels of cytokines in the two groups were determined before burns and at 6, 8, 16, 24 and 72PSH.

RESULTSThe hemodynamics indices in A group obviously improved compared with those in B group. The cardiac output (CO, 2.28 +/- 0.03 L/min) and right arterial pressure (RAP, 4.54 +/- 0.04 mmHg) in A group recovered to the pre-injury levels at 48 PSH. There was no difference of the hemorrheology indices between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum contents of cytokines in A group declined to the pre-injury level on 1 PBW, while those in B group were significantly higher than those before injury and those in A group (P < 0.05 or P > 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEscharectomy during 6 PBH might be safe and feasible, thus preventing long-term complications effectively.

Acute-Phase Reaction ; Animals ; Atrial Function, Right ; Burns ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cardiac Output ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hemorheology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature