Objective To investigate the role of Akt signal pathway on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ( MCP-1 ) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) stimulated by albumin and to explore the mechanisms of action. Method The HK-2 cells were incubated in the presence of albumin (5,15,30 mg/mL) with or without Ly294002 (an inhibitor of Akt). Expression of mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Expression of Akt and protein MCP-1 were assessed by Western blot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to detect the activation of NF-κB. q-test was used to evaluate the differences in means between groups. Results Compared with control group, the expression of MCP-1 mRNA remarkly increased. [Control group: 0.233 ±0.01; BSA(5 mg/mL) group: 0.285 ±0.04; BSA( 15 mg/mL) group:0.387 ± 0.02; BSA ( 30 mg/mL) group: 0.473 ± 0.05; BSA ( 30 mg/mL) + Ly294002 group: 0. 325 ±0.05, P ＜ 0.05 ]. The expression of MCP-1 protein in renal interstitum of operation group were remarkly increased too. [ Control group: 100 ± 15.1; BSA ( 5 mg/mL) group: 148 ± 19.3; BSA ( 15 mg/mL) group: 176±20.7; BSA(30 mg/mL) group: 263 ± 18.1; BSA(30 mg/mL) + Ly294002 group: 175 ± 18.0, P ＜0.05 ]. Albumin stimulated the expression of MCP-1mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. Albumin remarkably increased the activity of NF-κB. Albumin enhanced the expression of Akt. Ly294002 inhibited albumin-induced the expression of NF-κB and partially decreased the level of MCP-1. Apositive correlation was noted between NF-κB activation and MCP-1 expression( r = 0.68 ,P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Albumin-induces MCP-1 and NF-κB production via Akt signal pathway in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Granuloma, Pyogenic ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; pathology

Objective:To analyze the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV)gene mutation at 1896 in precore region with genotype and replication of HBV and the liver function of patients.Methods:HBV precore 1896 site mutation,the genotype of HBV and serum content of HBV DNA were determined by PCR in 60 patients positive of HBV DNA.Chemiluminescence miacropaticle immunoassay(CMIA)was used for detection of serum HBeAg and HBeAb.Liver function parameters were ob- tained by routine biochemistry method.Results:The alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level in HBV with 1896 site mutation was significantly higher than that in the wildtype virus.Site mutation at 1896 had no correlation with HBeAg,HBV genotype and HBV DNA content.HBV DNA content in patient with genotype C was significantly higher than that with genotype B(P

Thrombus is a major factor leading to cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Although fibrinolytic anti-thrombotic drugs have been widely used in clinical practice, they are still limited by narrow therapeutic windows, short half-lives, susceptibility to inactivation, and abnormal bleeding caused by non-targeting. Therefore, it is crucial to effectively deliver thrombolytic agents to the site of thrombus with minimal adverse effects. Based on the long blood circulation and excellent drug-loading properties of human serum albumin (HSA), we employed genetic engineering techniques to insert a functional peptide (P-selectin binding peptide, PBP) which can target the thrombus site to the N-terminus of HSA. The fusion protein was expressed using Pichia pastoris and purified by Ni-chelating affinity chromatography. After being loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), the fusion protein formed homogeneous and stable nanoparticles (named as PBP-HSA@Au) with a diameter of 17.7 ± 1.0 nm and a zeta potential of -11.3 ± 0.2 mV. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis tests demonstrated the superb biocompatibility of PBP-HSA@Au. Platelet-targeting experiments confirmed the thrombus-targeting ability conferred by the introduction of PBP into PBP-HSA@Au. Upon near-infrared ray (NIR) irradiation, PBP-HSA@Au rapidly converted light energy into heat, thereby disrupting fibrinogen and exhibiting outstanding thrombolytic efficacy. The designed HSA fusion protein delivery system provides a precise, rapid, and drug-free treatment strategy for thrombus therapy. This system is characterized by its simple design, high biocompatibility, and strong clinical applicability. All animal experiments involved in this study were carried out under the protocols approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Jiangnan University [JN. No20230915S0301015(423)].

This study was purposed to investigate the connexin 43 (Cx43) expression level in acute leukemia bone marrow stromal cells (ABMSCs) and normal bone marrow stromal cells (NBMSCs), and to explore the difference in communicating functions between these cells. The Cx43 expression levels of ABMSCs and NBMSCs were detected by using immunohistochemistry and computer gray scale assay, and the difference of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) was examined through dry transfer technique. The results showed that expression level of Cx43 in ABMSCs was lower than that in NBMSCs and its function of GJIC in ABMSCs was also weaker than that in NBMSCs. It is concluded that cell-cell communication function is lowered in ABMSCs.
Acute Disease ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Communication ; physiology ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

By comprehensively reviewing the origin and history of Niuhuang Jiedu Wan and its "derivatives", we studied the clinical records of realgar, investigated its clinical usage, dosage, efficacy, and toxicity in the literatures. We pinpointed the factors that might be associated with safety problems of Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Wan) and other traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations containing arsenic substances. In this article we also put forward suggestions for strengthening the surveillance and administration of similar TCM preparations.
Arsenic Poisoning ; history ; prevention & control ; Arsenicals ; adverse effects ; analysis ; history ; Drug Combinations ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Sulfides ; adverse effects ; analysis ; history

To evaluate the effects of p-octyl polyethylene glycol phenyl ether (Triton X-100), polyoxyl 35 caster oil (EL35) and polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated caster oil (RH40) on the activity of Cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3 As) in vivo. Rats were administered with saline, ketoconazole (75 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), Triton X-100 (30 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), EL35 (150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and RH40 (150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) intragastrically for 5 consecutive days, and then given midazolam 10 mg x kg(-1) 20 min after the last treatment of ketoconazole or three surfactants with the same dose through duodenal administration. Pharmacokinetics parameters for midazolam and its metabolite 1'-hydroxymidazolam were estimated from the plasma concentration-time data by a noncompartmental approach. The results showed that multiple dose administration of Triton X-100, EL35 and RH40 decreased the ratios of 1'-hydroxymidazolam and midazolam AUC0-infinity from 1.14 to 0.90, 1.03 and 0.64, respectively. In contrast, multiple dose administration of ketoconazole caused the ratios of 1'-hydroxymidazolam and midazolam a significant decrease to 0.50. This study indicated that Triton X-100 and EL35 would have no inhibition on CYP3A, while RH40 had significant inhibition on CYP3A. Therefore, RH40 might be used to prepare drug formulations in pharmaceutical industry and would increase the bioavailability of some drugs transformed by CYP3As and further lead to significant clinical pharmacologic effects.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Biotransformation ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; Ketoconazole ; pharmacology ; Male ; Midazolam ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Octoxynol ; pharmacology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surface-Active Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of meteorological factors on the outbreak of bacillary dysentery, so as to provide suggestions for disease prevention.

METHODSBased on the Chinese medicine theory of Yunqi, the descriptive statistics, single-factor correlation analysis and back-propagation artificial neural net-work were conducted using data on five basic meteorological factors and data on incidence of bacillary dysentery in Beijing, China, for the period 1970-2004.

RESULTSThe incidence of bacillary dysentery showed significant positive correlation relationship with the precipitation, relative humidity, vapor pressure, and temperature, respectively. The incidence of bacillary dysentery showed a negatively correlated relationship with the wind speed and the change trend of average wind speed. The results of medical-meteorological forecast model showed a relatively high accuracy rate.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a close relationship between the meteorological factors and the incidence of bacillary dysentery, but the contributions of which to the onset of bacillary dysentery are different to each other.

China ; epidemiology ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; epidemiology ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meteorological Concepts ; Models, Theoretical ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of left atrial plication (LAP) in patients with giant left atrium (GLA) associated with mitral valve disease.

METHODSTwenty-three patients with left atrial diameter (LAD) over 8.0 cm were enrolled. All cases underwent valve replacement and LAP between November 1993 and November 2004 were studied retrospectively. According to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 15 belonged to class III, 8 to class IV. Mitral valve replacements were performed in 18 patients (mechanical valve in 17 and biological valve in 1), double value replacement in 5, tricuspid valve plasty (TVP) in 15, atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation in 2.

RESULTSLow output syndrome happened in 3, respiratory failure in 2. The early death was in 3 cases (operative mortality 13%). The causes of death were: heart failure in 2 cases and stroke in 1. LAD was decreased significantly in patients after operation.

CONCLUSIONSLAP has considerably beneficial effects on improvement of postoperative respiratory and cardiac function, reducing operative mortality. Atrial fibrillation radiofrequency ablation is effective in patients with GLA associated with valve disease. It may be recommended for patients with GLA during mitral valve surgery, especially for patients with LAD > 8.0 cm.

Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; surgery ; Bioprosthesis ; Cardiomegaly ; complications ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Heart Atria ; surgery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; complications ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between respiratory diseases onset and the meteorological factors in the same period and in a specific environment. METHODS METHODS: By using the data of daily incidence of respiratory diseases obtained from Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2007, and the data of 16 items of meteorological factors (such as the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures, etc., including meteorological factors derived) obtained from the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Observatory, mathematical statistical methods were applied to achieve the non-linear correlation analysis, or the correlation test, between the incidence of respiratory diseases and the time-related meteorological factors.

RESULTSThe simple correlation coefficients of the relationship between the incidence of respiratory diseases and 9 meteorological elements, including the average values of temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, degree of comfort, precipitation, vapor pressure, low cloud cover, change of vapor pressure, and change of wind speed, were all greater than 0.8286, in which one of the relationship between the incidence of respiratory diseases and the maximum temperature is as high as 0.9670. Statistical tests showed R>Rα=0.05 and F>Fα=0.05.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of respiratory diseases was closely correlated to meteorological factors, such as air temperature, vapor pressure, precipitation, wind speed, etc. To a certain extent, this conclusion confirmed the scientificity and objectivity of the theory of five evolutive phases and six climatic factors (Wu Yun Liu Qi ) in Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine).

Air ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meteorological Concepts ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Statistics as Topic ; Steam ; Time Factors ; Wind