Objective To investigate the causes,consequences and management of injuries to the draining veins after embolization of brain arteriovenous malformations(BAVMs)with ?-n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA).Methods The angiographic imaging data of 189 BAVMs patients who underwent NBCA embolization were studied retrospectively.The status of the draining veins before and after NBCA embolization was observed and compared.The intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)complications and their relation to their angiographic features were analyzed.Results Twenty-three patients out of 189 patients showed injuries to the draining venous system,including 10 low-grade injury,6 moderate injury,and 7 high- grade injury.Six patients suffered from ICH after embolization,of whom 4 patients were due to injuries of the draining veins(2 moderate and 2 high-grade).In the 3 months follow-up evaluation of 4 patients with ICH, one died,one was in vegetative state,and the other two patients suffered from residual severe or minor (1 patient for each)permanent neurological deficits.Conclusion Our findings suggest that injury of the draining veins is the major cause of ICH and may lead to serious consequences after embolization of BAVMs with NBCA.

Objective To evaluate the treatment of aneurysms rupture during endovascular embolization.Methods Nine aneurysms ruptured during the embolization and were treated with endovascular embolization.The reasons of aneurysms rupture during embolization,the prevention and the first aid after aneurysms rupture were analysed.Results Seven patients recovered and 2 died.Conclusions The optimal treatment of aneurysms rupture during endovascular embolization is effective,(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16: 132-134)

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) animal model was established in female SD rats fed with high iodine diet.The concentrations of FT_3 and FT_4 were increasing in order of normal control group, iodine excess control group,EAT control group and EAT iodine excess group (Pl＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Semi- quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blotting results showed that the expression of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) existed in thyrocytes of each group,while the expression was increasing in order of normal control group,iodine excess control group,EAT control group and EAT iodine excess group (P＜0.01).The results suggested that high iodine diet might induce thyrocytes' apoptosis by increasing the expression of TRAIL and hence influencing functional and pathologic changes of thyroid grand.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the composition, function, and regulatory mechanisms of the secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) gene in metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODSWe obtained the data about the whole genomic expression profiles on prostate cancer metastasis from the GEO database, and performed data-mining and bioinformatic analysis using BRB-Array Tools and such softwares as Protparam, MotifScan, SignalP 4.0, TMHMM, NetPhos2.0, PredictProtein, GO, KEGG, and STRING.

RESULTSTotally, 73 co-expressed differential genes in prostate cancer metastasis were identified, 21 up-regulated and 52 down-regulated (P <0.01). Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the highly expressed SPP1 gene encoded 314 amino acids and contained 2 N-glycosylation sites, 8 casein kinase II phosphorylation sites and 3 protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, playing essential roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) binding, ossification, osteoblast differentiation, cell adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, focal adhesion, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction.

CONCLUSIONThe bioinformatic method showed a high efficiency in analyzing microarray data and revealing internal biological information. SPP1 may play an important role in prostate cancer metastasis and become a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer metastasis and a new target for its treatment.

Computational Biology ; Data Mining ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; Osteopontin ; chemistry ; genetics ; secretion ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo appraise the effect of single- and two-layer Percoll density gradient centrifugation in sperm separation.

METHODSTwenty semen specimens underwent single-(50%) and two-layer (90% and 45%) density gradient centrifugation, respectively. The sperm class analyzer (SCA) was used to analyze sperm density, motility and dynamic parameters and round cell density before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter separation, the sperm recovery rate of the single-layer method was (65.5 +/- 12.8)%, significantly higher than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.01). The percentages of grade a sperm of the single- and two-layer method were significantly higher than pre-treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), that of the single-layer was significantly lower than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.05), but the percentage of grade c sperm of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the percentage of grade a + b sperm of the two-layer method was significantly higher (P < 0.05), while that of the single-layer method showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), and the round cell density of both the methods was significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with no significant differences between the two methods (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe single-layer method yields a higher rate of sperm recovery and causes little change in the sperm motility, while the two-layer method effects a lower rate and significantly improves sperm motility. Both the methods can efficiently separate sperm from round cells, and each has its own advantages and its application value in in vitro treatment of sperm.

Cell Separation ; methods ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Povidone ; Silicon Dioxide ; Sperm Count ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo analyse the effects of buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWT) on differentially expressed genes during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats with DNA microarray.

METHODcDNA microarray chips containing 512 cDNAs were made by Biostar Genechip Inc. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with an filament. Saline or BYHWT was given p.o. after onset of cerebral ischemia and brains were removed after 24 h of recirculation for mRNAs isolation. A differential measurment of mRNAs from post-ischemic and BYHWT treated animals was performed with microarray.

RESULTUp-and down-regulated genes were 69 and 80 in ischemic group. Up-and down-regulated genes were 25 and 6 in BYHWT treated group.

CONCLUSIONBYHWT regulates the differential expression genes after focal brain ischemia/reperfusion in rats, due to its mechanism of protecting cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; genetics

AIMTo study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in U937 foam cells and the inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract in vitro.

METHODSU937 cells were incubated with 80 mg.L-1 oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) for 48 h and a macrophage-derived foam cell model was established. The VEGF concentration in the media was determined by ELISA; the VEGF protein expression in cells was measured with immunohistochemistry; the VEGF mRNA level in cells was measured by in situ hybridization; the positive ratio detected by a morphometrical analysis system was used as the amount of the VEGF protein expression and the mRNA level.

RESULTSAfter U937 cells were incubated with OX-LDL, VEGF expression level increased greatly both in the cells and in the media. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were shown to remarkably inhibit the increase of VEGF. After treated with 10 micrograms/L-1 salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF protein concentration in the media and positive ratio in the cells decreased compared with foam cells. After treated with 10 micrograms.L-1 salvianolic acid B and 100 micrograms.L-1 Ginkgo biloba extract, the VEGF mRNA level decreased measured by in situ hybridization.

CONCLUSIONA high VEGF expression level was determined in U937 foam cells. Salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract were found to inhibit VEGF expression significantly in U937 foam cells in vitro.

Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; U937 Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIMTo determine the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human umbilical veins endothelial cell line (ECV304) and the inhibitory effect of 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (ST I) in vitro.

METHODSExposure to 2.5 mg x L(-1) LPC or LPC + ST I for 24 hours, VEGF protein was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, VEGF mRNA expression in ECV304 was examined by in situ hybridization. VEGF165 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and Realtime RT-PCR.

RESULTSLPC upregulated VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA expression in the ECV304 cells. ST I was shown to markedly inhibit the LPC-induced increase of VEGF protein and VEGF165 mRNA (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONLPC can induce a strong expression of VEGF in ECV304 cells and ST I can inhibit it.

Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stilbenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of tadalafil on nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT).

METHODSThirty-four patients with organic erectile dysfunction (ED) were treated with oral tadalafil at the dose of 10 mg/3 d before bedtime. A month later, 14 of the patients were observed for NPT by nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA).

RESULTSThe parameters of erectile function significantly improved in the 14 patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOral administration of minute dose of tadalafil can improve NPT in organic ED patients.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Tadalafil

This study is to investigate the protein and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in U937 foam cells and effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the cytokines. U937 cells were cultured with different concentrations of GbE (0.1, 1, and 10 microg x L(-1)), and stimulated by 100 mg x L(-1) oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) for 24 h. The expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture solution were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that incubated with 100 mg x L(-1) ox-LDL for 24 h, the U937 cells became foam cells, the protein or mRNA expressions of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells were higher markedly than those in normal U937 cells. When the cells were pretreated with GbE (0.1, 1, and 10 microg x L(-1)), the increases of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in U937 foam cells were remarkably inhibited, but IL-10 expression increased greatly. Especially when cells were pretreated with 10 microg x L(-1) GbE, the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were markedly lower than those in U937 foam cells. The protein expression of IL-10 and mRNA expressions of IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R were markedly higher than those in U937 foam cells. GbE inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, but up-regulated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and its receptor IL-10R in U937 foam cells, which might be related with its anti-atherosclerotic actions.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Interleukin-10 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; U937 Cells