Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; therapy ; Gap Junctions ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects

Objective To study the effect of the extract of Chrysanthemum Indicum(CI)on the expression of tumor necro-sis factor-α (TNF-α) and neutrophil function in chronic bronchitis (CB)rats and to explore the therapeutic mechanism for chronic bronchitis. Methods The extract of CI was prepared. Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, Chuanxiling group, and low-, middle-and high-dose CI extract groups. Rat model of CB was established by intratracheal injection with low-dose lipopolysaccharide. After drug intervention, the expression of TNF-α in rat serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was detected by ELISA method. Phagocytic function of the neu-trophil and respiratory burst of the rats were measured by flow cytometry (FCM). Results Compared with the blank con-trol group, the phagocytic function of the neutrophil, respiratory burst of the rats, and the expression of TNF-α in rat serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the model group were increased significantly. CI extract significantly decreased the abnormal rising of the above indexes. Conclusion Down-Regulation of TNF-α expression, and decrease of the neutrophil phagocytic function and rat respiratory burst may be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of Chrysanthemum In-dicum extract for the treatment of CB.

【Objective】To study the effect of the specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 on apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons induced by low potassium.【Methods】Apoptosis was induced by switching the cultured cerebellar granule neurons from a culture medium containing K+ 25 mmol*L-1 to a medium containing K+ 5 mmol*L-1 (cLK).Fragmentation of DNA was analyzed using agarose gel eletrophoresis.SAPK/JNK activity was measured by SAPK/JNK assay kit.【Results】Low potassium resulted in apoptosis as characterized by morphological and biochemical features,but the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 improved the survival of cerebellar granule neurons cultured in cLK medium by blocking apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.The expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun increased and the activity of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) elevated when cerebellar granule neurons were cultured in cLK medium.But when the cerebellar granule neurons cultured in cLK medium were exposed to 25 μmol*L-1 SB203580,the expression and phosphorylation of c-Jun and the activity of JNK were both decreased evidently.【Conclusions】These results indicate that SB203580 inhibits the activation of JNK and phosphorylation of c-Jun,and therefore protects granule neurons from apoptosis induced by low potassium.

Objective To analyze the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma and its influencing factors,and to provide an optimal combination mode of chemoradiotherapy for treating esophageal carcinoma. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data from 232 patients with esophageal carcinoma who were admitted to our hospital from January 2006 to December 2012 and received radical chemoradiotherapy. All patients received three?dimensional conformal radiotherapy or intensity?modulated radiotherapy as well as platinum?based chemotherapy. The overall survival ( OS ) and local control ( LC) rates were calculated using the Kaplan?Meier method and analyzed using the Logrank test. Univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses were made by the log?rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model,respectively. Results In all patients,the 1?,3?,and 5?year LC rates were 66?1%,42?2%, and 38?5%,respectively;the median LC time was 24?4 months;the 1?,3?,and 5?year OS rates were 73?3%, 37?2%,and 19?5%,respectively;the median OS time was 21 months. The univariate analysis revealed that T stage,N stage,clinical stage,irradiation range,and no less than 3 cycles of chemotherapy were influencing factors for OS ( P=0?000,0?000,0?000,0?030,0?001) and LC ( P=0?112,0?031,0?009,0?074,0?218) . The multivariate analysis revealed that N stage,clinical stage,and no less than 3 cycles of chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS ( P=0?006,0?000,0?001) . Conclusions The LC and long?term OS rates in patients with early?stage esophageal carcinoma can be substantially improved by radical chemoradiotherapy. The irradiation range and no less than 3 cycles of chemotherapy improve the long?term survival in patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of output power,action time and radiofrequency(RF) needle on the cool-tip radiofrequency ablation(RFA) by experimental tools and to determine the value of ultrasonography in size evaluation of RFA zone.Methods The cool-tip RFA to fresh calf liver were monitored by ultrasound.The experiments by single electrode needle were performed with different combination of output power (80 W,120 W) and time (5 min,8 min,10 min).The cluster needle was used for assessment at 5 min with different output power(80 W,120 W).After the end of trial,the longitudinal specimens were cut open.The view and size of the ablation zone were recorded with naked eyes.The pathological changes displayed by optical microscope were recorded as well.Results The measurement of ablation zone with naked eyes showed with the ablation zone expanded with time in 80 W-power cases,but the pace of expansion slowed down,but in 120 W-power cases,expansion of the ablation zone was not obvious; the ablation zone in 120 W-power was bigger than that in 80 W-power at 5 min,their difference decreased with time,and the ablation zones were similar at 10 min.The cluster needle can produce ablation zone with lesser aspect ratio than that of single electrode needle,consequently similar to circle.Ultrasonic measurement of the ablation zone had real discrepancy.Most of longitudinal diameters were greater than the real ones,while in large ablation lesions,vertical diameters were often less than the real ones.Under optical microscope,no change could be found in shape and structure of the cells in ablation zone.Conclusion The output power and performing time have impact on ablation.The high-power output increased heat production as well as reduction of heat conduction.Compared with single electrode needle,the cluster needle produced ablation zone closer to real hepatic tumor,thus has more reliable effect to small hepatocellular carcinoma with diameter around 2 cm.The ultrasond has a great significance in RFA guidance,but it could not accurately define the border of ablation zone.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between 12p13 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12425791 and Chinese medical syndrome types of ischemic stroke patients of the Han nationality.

METHODSA case-control study was used. Recruited were 148 ischemic stroke patients of the Han nationality (67 patients of phlegm syndrome and 81 patients of blood stasis syndrome). Another 192 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. The genotypes of rs12425791 were performed by TaqMan SNP genotyping assays to analyze the distribution of genes and the distribution frequency of alleles.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the genotype and alleles of rs12425791 between the ischemic stroke patients of phlegm syndrome and the control group, or between the ischemic stroke patients of blood stasis syndrome and the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results did not support that 12p13 common variant rs12425791 was correlated with the pathogeneses of ischemic stroke patients of phlegm syndrome and ischemic stroke patients of blood stasis syndrome.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEIBS-D rat model was established to assess the effect of Shen warming Pi strengthening method (SWPSM) for intervening diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by observing rats' general state, stool properties, AWR ranking, and histopathological changes.

METHODSTotally 72 rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e. the normal group, the model group, the high, middle, low dose SWPSM groups, and the control group, 12 in each group. The IBS-D rat model was successfully established referring to AL-Chaer ED's modeling method. After modeling high, middle, and low dose SWPS Recipe boil-free granules were given by gastrogavage to rats in corresponding treatment groups. Sishen Pill boil-free granule was given by gastrogavage to those in the control group. Equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrogavage to rats in the model group. The medication lasted for 2 weeks. Rats' general state, stool properties, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) ranking, and histopathological changes were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the general state of all rats got im- provement to various degrees. The improvement in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups were superior to that in the low dose SWPS Recipe group and the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the growth rate between after and before treatment in each group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group, the defecation amount within 4 h was less in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups and the control group (P < 0.05). The Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stool, ratio of dry stool and wet stool were lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group and the low dose SWPS Recipe group (P < 0.05). The AWR ranking score was lower in the high and middle dose SWPS Recipe groups than in the control group when the volume of balloon dilation was 1.5 mL. There was no organic change of histological or morphological observation.

CONCLUSIONSHigh sensitive IBS-D model was proved to be reliable. SWPSM could reduce the quantity of stools, lower Bristol ranking score, average ranking of loose stools as well as ratios of dry stool and wet stool, contributing to reducing the high sensitivity of rats' visceral organs to some extent.

Animals ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbal therapy on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODSTotally 36 inpatients and outpatients at Department of Nephropathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, from June 2011 to June 2013 were recruited in the treatment group, while 20 volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the IgAN group only took Chinese herbal decoctions by syndrome typing for 3 months (except those accompanied with hypertension additionally took antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and/or dihydropyridines calcium antagonist). No intervention was performed in the healthy control group. The values of Th1, Th2, and CD4+ CD25+ Treg, and red blood cell number in urine were detected using flow cytometry before and after treatment. 24 h urine protein was detected using inmmunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the CD4+ CD25+ Treg level obviously decreased in the IgAN group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). In the IgAN group, Th1, 24 h urine protein, and urine red blood cell counts were obviously lower after treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal therapy could reduce urine erythrocyte number and 24 h urine protein of IgAN patients, and down-regulating Th1 expression might be its mechanism.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify clinical and laboratory abnormalities and genetic defect of Fechtner syndrome in a Chinese family.

METHODSThe characteristic morphological features of platelets and leukocytes were examined on blood smears with Wright's-Giemsa staining and ultrastructure of platelet and leukocyte were investigated under electron microscope. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of the proband and 9 members of his family. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the MYH9 gene were amplified by PCR followed by direct sequencing.

RESULTSPatients presented the characteristic clinical features including macrothrombocytopenia, leukocyte inclusions and/or hereditary nephritis. A heterozygous C to T mutation was found in the proband and three members of his family at nucleotide 5981 in exon 40 of MYH9 gene, resulting in a nonsense mutation which encoded truncated protein due to premature termination at the Arg 1933 codon.

CONCLUSIONIt is the first report of a Chinese family with Fechtner syndrome. The Arg (CGA) 1933--> stop (TGA) nonsense mutation in MYH9 gene is a causative genetic defect.

Adult ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Motor Proteins ; genetics ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Syndrome ; Thrombocytopenia ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify gene mutations involved in five cases of inherited factor V (FV) deficiency.

METHODSActivity of FV was determined by one-stage clotting assay using FV-deficiency plasma, and FV antigen by an ELISA assay. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of FV gene were amplified by PCR and then DNA sequencing. Restriction enzyme analysis was used to analyze the probands, their family members and healthy volunteers.

RESULTSBoth activity and antigen of FV in the 5 patients were extremely lower compared with that of normal mixed plasma. Six mutations were identified in these 5 patients, G69969T (G2079V), C45533T (R712Ter), C46796T (R1133Ter), G45366A (C656Y), C46253T (R952C) and G16088C (D68H), the latter three were novel mutations reported for the first time and the C46253T (R952C) was the first missense mutation reported in B domain. The result of sequencing or restriction enzyme analysis showed that the three novel missense mutations were not caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms.

CONCLUSIONGene mutations in 5 type I inherited FV deficiency of patients including 2 nonsense mutations and 4 missense mutations identified which led to the instability of FV protein and the reducing of FV: Ag in the plasma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Factor V ; genetics ; metabolism ; Factor V Deficiency ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Young Adult