Objective To investigate the changes of plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and glucagon (Glu) in congestive heart failure and its clinical significance. Methods The levels of plasma VIP and Glu were measured with radioimmunoassay in 40 patients with congestive heart failure, including 15 patients with cardiac function in degree Ⅰ, 25 cases with cardiac function in degree ⅡⅣ, and 23 normal children who were served as controls. Results The levels of plasma VIP and Glu increased than that in normal control group[(43.22?5 48) ng/L vs(32.24?4.46) ng/L, P

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; anatomy & histology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; therapy

Child ; Crush Syndrome ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Edema ; complications

In order to establish a method for the determination of the sterols of the oil in the freeze-dried acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) and to evaluate its antioxidant activities, a saponification/extraction procedure and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis method were developed and validated for the analysis of phytosterols in PEE (Petroleum ether extract). Separation was achieved on a Purosper STAR LP C18 column with a binary, gradient solvent system of acetonitrile and isopropanol. Evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was used to quantify β-sitosterol and the total sterols. Peak identification was verified by retention times and spikes with external standards. Standard curves were constructed (r = 0.999 2) to allow for sample quantification. Recovery of the saponification and extraction was demonstrated via analysis of spiked samples. The highest content of total sterols is β-sitosterol. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using the total oxyradical scavenging capacity assay (TOSC assay). The result showed that the PEE exhibited significant antioxidant properties, sample concentration and the antioxidant capacity had a certain relevance.
Antioxidants ; analysis ; Arecaceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phytosterols ; analysis ; Sitosterols ; analysis

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluorescence ; G1 Phase ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mid-term outcome of operation for thoracolumbar tuberculosis. METHODS : Twenty-eight patiens with thoracolumbar tuberculosis underwent one stage anterior debridement,interbody fusion with bone graft and posterior pedicle screw internal fixation treatment from July 2006 to July 2011. There were 17 males and 11 females. Total 17 patients had nerve injuries ,including 6 cases of grade B, 5 cases of grade C, 6 cases of grade D according to Frankel classification. The poisoning symptoms of tuberculosis and recovery of spinal function were observed. The bone fusion and recovery of [umbar function were evaluated.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up ,and the duration ranged from 39 to 85 months (mean 57 months). The clinical symptoms were controlled gradually, and the thoracolumbar back pain was alleviated after operation. Among the 17 patients with complications of nerve injuries, 3 patients were improved from preoperative grade B to postoperative grade D, 3 patients were improved from preoperative grade B to postopertive E, 5 patients with preoperative grade C and 6 patients with preoperative D were almostly recovered to normal after operation. According to JOA scoring system for curative effect evaluation, the excellent and good rate at the 3rd month, the 1st year, the 3rd year and the 5th year after operation were 67.86% ,82.14% ,85.71% ,89.29% and 91.30% respectively. The results at the 6th month and the 1st year had no statistical differences compared to the results at the 3rd month (P > 0.05); but the results at the 3rd year and the 5th year were better than that at 3 months after operation (P < 0.05); and the results between 3 yesrs and 5 years after operation had no statistical differences (P < O.05). The degeneration of adjacent segments were evaluated according to the California University (Universith of California at Los Angeles , UCLA) score. The degeneration rate was 53.57% (15/28) at the 3rd year after surgery, which was better than that before surgery. Twenty-three patients were followed up for 5 years ,and the degeneration rate was 86.96% (20/23) ,which was better than those of before surgery and 3 years after surgery.

CONCLUSIONThe surgical treatment for thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis can achieve the thorough debridement, reconstruction of spinal stability, recovery of lumbar function and promote the functional recovery of the spinal cord, which is an effective method of treatment. However, the mid term follow-up showed that more severe degenerative changes were found in the postoperative adjacent segment.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reversing effect of NF-kappaB inhibitor MG-132 on chemoresistance of gastric cancer cells to vincristine.

METHODSIn vincristine-resistant human gastric cancer cells (SGC7901/VCR) and the parental sensitive clone (SGC7901), NF-kappaB-DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoreses mobility shift assay (EMSA). The inhibition level of kappaB (IkappaB-alpha) expression was measured by cellular-ELISA. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect the translocation of p65 and chemosensitivity of the cells was determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSCompared with the parental SGC7901 cells, both the baseline and VCR-induced NF-kappaB-DNA binding activities in various concentrations were all higher in the SGC7901/VCR cells. Pretreatment with MG-132, the NF-kappaB inhibitor, for 30 minutes remarkably reduced the NF-kappaB activation, IkappaB-alpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65. As to the SGC7901/VCR cells and the parental sensitive SGC7901 cells, the IC(50) values for VCR were 40.03 mg/L and 0.26 mg/L, respectively. MG-132 (2.5 micromol/L) significantly enhanced the toxicity of VCR in SGC7901/VCR cells and decreased the resistance index from 154.0 to 16.5. However, MG-132 did not show an obvious effect on the VCR sensitivity in sensitive SGC7901 cells.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that inhibition of NF-kappaB activation in gastric cancer cells may reverse the drug resistance to VCR in the cancer cells and increase the efficiency of chemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leupeptins ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the safety of modified sputum induction in moderate to very severe COPD during exacerbation. Methods Ninety patients with moderate, severe or very severe COPD during exacerbation (27 with type Ⅰ and Ⅱ respiratory failure,18 with coronary heart disease, 38 with tachycardia) were chosen as research subjects. All the patients underwent induced sputum. During induction , all patients were given electrocardiographic monitoring and pulmonary function check every 5 minutes and FEV1, HR, SpO2 in the process of testing were recorded. Results Ninety patients underwent 224 sputum inductions progress, 222 were safety. Qualified sputum samples were collected for 216 times, sputum induction was successful in 96.43% of occasions. Heart rate rising and SpO2 reducing during sputum induction mainly occurred in the beginning 5 minutes, FEV1 did not change in the whole process. Conclusion Modified sputum induction can be safe through closely monitoring in patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD with exacerbation, even with type Ⅰ or typeⅡ respiratory failure. But the risk of sputum induction will increase if patients with coronary heart disease and tachyarrhythmia, especially within beginning 5 minutes of sputum induction.