OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of rhein on reducing starvation-induced autophagic protein expression in renal tubular epithelial ( NRK-52E) cells.

METHODHank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) was used to induce NRK-52E cells to be in the state of starvation. After the intervention of HBSS for 0, 0.5,1, 2 and 6 hours, firstly, the protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3 I/II), which is a key protein in autophagy, was detected. Secondly, the protein expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylated-mTOR Ser2448 (p-mTOR S2448) were examined. And then, after the co-treatment of rhein (5 mg x L(-1)) and HBSS (1 mL) without or with mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin (100 nmol x L(-1)), the protein expressions of LC3 I/II, mTOR and p-mTOR S2448 were tested, respectively.

RESULTHBSS could induce the up-regulation of LC3 II and the down-regulation of p-mTOR S2448 at protein expression level in NRK-52E cells. The co-treatment of rhein and HBSS could reversely regulate the protein expressions of LC3 II and p-mTOR S2448 in NRK-52E cells significantly. The co-treatment of rapamycin, rhein and HBSS could recover the level of LC3 II protein expression in HBSS-intervened NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONHBSS induces autophagy in renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting mTOR signaling pathway activation. Rhein reduces the autophagic protein expression in renal tubular epithelial cells through regulating mTOR signaling pathway activation, which is the possible effects and molecular mechanisms.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Isotonic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology

Fetal echocardiography is used by means of decleration of fetal cardiac anaztomy, to estabilish the diagnosis of congenital heart disease in utero. We attemped fetal echocardiography to ninty three pregnant women after intra uterine period 24 weeks, and estimated cardiac circumference, cardiac axis, pulmonary atery root diameter, arortic root diameter, diameter of inferior vena cava, diameter of superior ve studied how these estimates associate with following gestational na cava, and fractional shortening of ventricles. We ages. Cardiac axis was on the average 37.28 degree and cardiac apex was located in anterior left side of chest area. Aortic root diameter was 0.227 GA-0.043mm (GA=gestational age) at systolic phase, 0.203 GA+0.421mm at diastolic phase. Pulmonaly root diameter was 0.271 GA-0.029mm at systolic phase, 0.251 GA-0.067mm at diastolic phase. Thoracic aorta diameter was 0.195 GA+0.109mm at systolic phase, 0.198 GA+0.794mm at diastolic phase. Fractional shortening was 0.24 (1 Standard Deviation=0.11) in right ventricle, 0.23(1 SD=0.154) at left ventricle, and so ratio of right and left ventricle was 1.04(1 SD=0.51). Once normal fetal cardiac anatomy is understood, structural defects and/or alternation of function can be evaluated antenatally.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Pregnant Women ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Objective To evaluate diagnostic value of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in ringlike- enhanced lesions.Methods Nine abscesses,12 glioblastomas,10 metastases confirmed clinically or pathologically underwent conventional MRI and DTI.Average diffusion coefficient(ADC)value,fractional anisotropy(FA)value and maps were calculated in the central portion and peripheral edema of the lesions. Results On DTI,the abscesses displayed as hyperintense signal with hypointense or isointense signal of edema;but glioblastomas and metastases all showed as hypointense signal with isointense or hypointense signal of edema.On ADC map,the abscesses showed as hypointense signal,the mean ADC value was (0.66?0.07)x10~(-3)mm~2/s,The mean ADC value were(2.50?0.11)x10~(-3)mm~2/s and(2.37?0.52)x10~(-3)mm~2/s for the glioblastomas and metastases,respectively,all demonstrated as hyperintense signal with slightly hyperintense signal of edema.The difference between abscess and necrotic tumors was statistically significant(F=108.80,P

No abstract available.
Antigens, Surface* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

Objective To explore the distribution of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene and MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism among 1644 physical examinees in Taizhou region. Methods Fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to detect MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C genotype in 1644 physical examinees from Taizhou Central Hospital from September 2016 to September 2017. According to the characteristics of gender, the distribution features of MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C genotype were described, and then were compared with data about the physical examinees in other cities in China. Results Among the 1644 physical examinees, MTHFR 677CC, 677CT and 677TT genotype frequency were 40.09％, 44.53％and 15.39％ respectively and MTHFR 677 allele frequency was 37.65％. MTHFR 1298AA, 1298AC and 1298CC genotype frequency were 65.69％, 30.47％ and 3.83％ respectively and MTHFR 1298 allele frequency was 19.07％. Statistical significance was found in genotype distribution of MTHFR C677T between males and females (P=0.036), and no statistical significance was found in genotype distribution of MTHFR A1298C between males and females (P=0.278) . As compared with the physical examinees in Henan, Wulumuqi and Beijing regions, there were statistically significance differences in the distribution of MTHFR C677T genotype and allele frequencies in Taizhou region (P <0.05) . Conclusion The distribution of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism among physical examinees in Taizhou region is affected by gender, and the results shows certain regional specificity.

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture has been practiced to treat back pain in the oriental culture for several centuries and still occupies an integral part of traditional oriental medicine. Nowadays, it also comprises one aspect of the so-called alternative medicine, being increasingly practiced in western conturies. However, it has been sometimes practiced less carefully without awareness for adverse effects after acupuncture treatment. This study is performed to stress the concern about the serious complications possibly arising after acupuncture. METHODS: The medical records and radiological datas of 5 patients who suffered from serious complications after acupuncture from 1999 to 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. All 5 patients has treated with acupuncture for pain control before the admission. They did not have any medical problems such as diabetes mellitus, liver diseases, and hematologic problems. RESULTS: Epidural abscess was found in 4 patients and subdural hemorrhage in 1 patient. Among 4 patients with epidural abscess, 3 patients without myelitis had good recovery of neurologic symptoms. However, one patient who was combined with myelitis had poor outcome. One patient who was diagnosed subdural hemorrhage was improved with conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture has been and is being practiced extensively in medical field. However, it has been sometimes abused recklessly for the pain control related with spine, that might result in serious complications such as epidural abscess or subdural hemorrhage as in our cases. These results should raise concern about serious complications that may be developed in practicing the acupuncture.
Acupuncture* ; Back Pain ; Complementary Therapies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidural Abscess ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Medical Records ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Myelitis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

We describe two cases of tension pneumocephalus, one caused by ventriculoperitoneal shunt for communicating hydrocephalus, and the other caused by craniocerebral trauma. In the first case report, we examined the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid leakage and delayed onset tension pneumocephalus. The second case report, we addressed issues such as the diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis, as well as computerized tomography(CT) findings.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Hydrocephalus ; Pneumocephalus* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

We describe two cases of tension pneumocephalus, one caused by ventriculoperitoneal shunt for communicating hydrocephalus, and the other caused by craniocerebral trauma. In the first case report, we examined the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid leakage and delayed onset tension pneumocephalus. The second case report, we addressed issues such as the diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis, as well as computerized tomography(CT) findings.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Hydrocephalus ; Pneumocephalus* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of methylprednisolone pretreatment on pulmonary lung permeability index and the content of the pulmonary surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in a rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

METHODSTwenty-one male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group, reexpansion, and reexpansion+methylprednisolone pretreatment groups. The rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema was established using Sakaos method. A bolus dosage of methylprednisolone (3 mg/kg) in reexpansion+methylprednisolone group group or 2.0 ml/kg normal saline in the other two groups was administered intravenously 20 min before reexpansion pulmonary edema. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and arterial blood samples were collected for measurement of the total protein (TP) and DPPC contents 4 h after reexpansion, and the pulmonary permeability index was calculated.

RESULTSThe pulmonary permeability index in methylprednisolone pretreatment group was significantly lower than that in the reexpansion group (0.007∓0.002 vs 0.177∓0.004, P<0.05). Methylprednisolone pretreatment significantly increased DPPC concentration in the BALF as compared with saline treatment in the reexpansion group (61.815∓28.307 vs 101.955∓24.544 µg/ml, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone pretreatment can increase pulmonary surfactant content and improve pulmonary permeability in the rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; pharmacology ; Permeability ; Pulmonary Edema ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Diosgenin can inhibit the growth of A375 and K562 cell lines and induce their apoptosis with an effect on pro-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family. To study the SAR of diosgenin derivatives, and to improve the anti-tumor activity of diosgenin, a series of novel diosgenin derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their anti-tumor activities in vitro were evaluated. The results revealed that most of the new derivatives had potent effects against K562, A375 and A549 (three tumor cell lines) in vitro, and had no or less effect against H293 and L02 (two normal cell lines). Particularly, some compounds (e.g. 1, 6-8) showed excellent activities on K562 with IC50 values ranging from 1.96 to 4.35 micromol x L(-1).
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Design ; Humans