Objective To study the correlation of artery stiffness with left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients .Methods Four hundred and eighty patients were divided into CHD group (n=373) and non-CHD group(n=107)according to their coronary angiography .Patients in CHD group were further divided into normal left ventricular re-modeling group (n=139) and abnormal left ventricular remodeling group (n=243) .Their brachi-al-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV ) was measured .The patients underwent echocardiography and 42 patients in CHD group received Doppler tissue imaging .Results The BaPWV was signifi-cantly higher in CHD group than in non-CHD group (P<0 .01) and in abnormal left ventricular remodeling group than in normal left ventricular remodeling group (1689 ± 305 cm/s vs 1508 ± 280 cm/s ,P< 0 .05) .The BaPWV was positively related with the IVST ,PWT ,RWT ,LVMI ,E/Ea and negatively related with the LVEF ,Ea ,Ea/Aa in CHD group (P<0 .05 ,P<0 .01) .Partial cor-relation analysis showed that the BaPWV was significantly related with the IVST ,PWT ,RWT , LVMI ,LVEF ,Ea ,Ea/Aa and E/Ea when the effect of hypertension ,etc ,was excluded (P<0.01) .Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that the BaPWV was an independent factor for LVMI and LVEF .Conclusion BaPWV is an independent factor for left ventricular remodeling and cardiac function in CHD patients .

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on GSKbeta/IDE signal transduction pathway and Abeta protein secretion in hippocampal neurons of high glucose-treated rats.

METHODHippocampal neurons of 24 h-old newly born SD rats were primarily cultured, inoculated in culture medium under different conditions, and then divided into the normal group, the high glucose group, the LiCl group and the Rb1 group. After being cultured for 72 h, the expressions of their phosphorylated GSK3beta, total GSK3beta and IDE protein were detected by Western blotting analysis. The mRNA expressions of GSK3beta and IDE were determined by RT-PCR. The ELISA assay was used to detect the secretion of Abeta protein in cell supernatant.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the high glucose group showed increase in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the secretion of Abeta protein and decrease in IDE protein and mRNA (P < 0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, both Rb1 and LiCl groups showed decrease in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the expression of Abeta protein and increase in IDE protein and mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Compared with the LiCl group, the Rb1 group showed no significant difference in the expressions of p/tGSK3beta protein, IDE protein, mRNA and Abeta protein expression. In addition, the GSK3beta mRNA expression of the four groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rb1 may reduce the secretion of Abeta protein in hippocampal neurons by reducing the phosphorylation of GSK3beta, down-regulating the ratio of pGSK3beta/GSK3beta and upregulating the expression of IDE.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Animals ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; adverse effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulysin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the reliability of a novel rating scale, unified multiple system atrophy rating scale, section Ⅰ(UMSARS-Ⅰ) in the evaluation of illness severity in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods A retrospective analysis and a prospective follow-up study were conducted by using UMSARS-Ⅰ in 46 patients with MSA, and the Schwab and England scale was employed and illness severity was graded. The reliability, validity and sensitivity to change of UMSARS-Ⅰ in evaluating the illness severity of MSA were estimated. Results UMSARS-Ⅰ enjoyed high internal consistency (standard Crohnbach's ?=0.88) and sound content, criterion-related, construct and discriminant validity in the evaluation of illness severity of MSA, and a moderate sensiti-vity to change was found(effect size=0.61). Conclusion UMSARS-Ⅰ is a reliable and multidimensional semi-quantitative scale in the measurement of severity and progression of impairment in MSA.

Purpose To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata(RRP)on the footpad inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA)in rats.Methods CFA 100 μL were injected subcutaneously to the Wistar rats at the pad of right hindfoots.19 days later,the rats were daily siven RRP water extract(0.625,1.250,2.500 g/kg·bw)or dexamethasone(0.5mg/ks·bw)intragastrically.The changes of body weight and foot volume were measured.The indexes of organ and blood were determined at the 29th day,the foot pad was removed,and routine paraffin section was performed.Results The model rats kept foot swelling and lymphocyte infiltrating,and the platelet number decreased.The other indexes were statistically insignificant when compared to the controls.RRP did not display any anti-inflammatory effect on the swollon foots,but thoracic gland and spleen indexes were rescued,and platelet number and creatinine content were increased by RRP administration in a dose-dependent manner.The anti-inflammation of dexamethasone was conspicuous,but the side effects were also significant.Conclusion RRP may be plays an adjunctive action in herbal recipes to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective This study is undertaken to evaluate the changes of serum cytokine levels in different stages of collagen induced arthritis(CIA)rats,to search for the specific proteins related with rheuma- toid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis and inflammation,and to explore the mechanism of RA pathogenesis.Methods Rat cytokine antibody array coated with 19 specific cytokine antibodies was used to examine serum samples at peak and late stage of CIA rats,and were compared to normal cytokine levels.At the same time,ELISA assay for serum TNF-?production was used to verify the array results.Results Among the target cytokines,10 up- regulating cytokines were kept in high expression in different phases of disease,while 1 showed significant change only at the peak of disease.There was no downregnlating cytokines in the results.Serum TNF-?assay results were consistent to the array results.Conclusion Cytokines show different expression in CIA at differ- ent stages,and specific cytokines can be used as the candidates to further study of the RA pathogenesis.This study also provides molecular makers for early diagnosis.

Objective: To establish multiwavelength HPLC fingerprint of Aurea helianthus from different batches, and combine quantitative analysis, similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis to evaluate the quality of A. helianthus. Methods: The chromatographic column was Phenomenex Kinetex C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.08% phosphoric acid water (A) and acetonitrile (B) in gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, the detection wavelength was set at 260 nm for protocatechuic acid during 0-8 min, 324 nm for caffeic acid during 8-15 min, 360 nm for rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, gossypetin-8-O-β-D-glucuronide, myricetin, quercetin-3’-O-glucoside, and quercetin during 15-60 min. The column temperature was set at 30 oC. And the HPLC fingerprint of A. helianthus was established by the similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM (Version 2004A) and SPSS19.0, which was used for similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. Results: A total of 25 common peaks were confirmed of A. helianthus HPLC fingerprint, and nine peaks were identified which were determined. The similarity of 16 batches of samples was between 0.879 and 0.983; The results of cluster analysis showed that A. helianthus was clustered into two groups, indicating that there were differences in the similarity; Ranked the quality of A. helianthus based on the main component composite score. Conclusion: The method is simple and accurate, which can be used for the comprehensive quality evaluation research of the medicinal materials of A. helianthus.

Objective To assess the distribution of vaginal microflora in healthy women and investigate their cognition of lower reproductive tract infection-related knowledge as well as personal hygiene habits and character of behavior in seeking medical treatment. Methods Total of 1660 healthy women who had physical check-ups at the Medical Center of Renji Hospital were selected and received gynecologic examination, as well as routine examination, pH examination and bacterial culture of the vaginal discharge. In addition, 860 of them were randomly selected for questionnaire survey, in which reproductive tract infection -related knowledge and personal hygiene habits as well as behavior in seeking medical treatment were involved. Results Among the 1660 eensused women, vaginal average pH was 4. 16±0.21. The positive rate of Candida in vaginal discharge routine examination was 3.86% (64/1660), which was lower than that in aerobes culture 7.71% (128/1660). Candida alhicans was the most populous species 78.9% (101/128) ,followed by 7.8% (10/128) and 7.0% (9/128) for the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei respectively. The most populous species of vaginal microflora were hemolytic streptococcus A (63.80%, 1059/1660), Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.28%, 237/1660), and Enterococcus faecalis (D) group ( 11.44%, 190/1660). The questionnaire survey showed that 88.4% (760/860) of 860 women took active treatment when feeling unwell, 92.1% (792/860) of them had good hygiene practices, and only 21.2% (182/860) had the habit of vaginal douching. In addition, 50.0% (430/860) of them had the desire to obtain reproductive health knowledge through out-patient consultation. Conclusions Vulvovaginal Candida disease ranks the first in all types of vaginitis, among which, Candida albicans is the most populous species followed by the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. Hemolytic streptococcus A and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common species of vaginal mieroflora in healthy women. The censused women have high awareness of reproductive health care and pay mueh attention to common gynecologic diseases such as lower reproductive tract infection. Nevertheless, we should strengthen the public education of reproductive health-related knowledge.

Objective To investigate the correlated pathogenetic factors and vaginal local immunity in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Methods A case control study was conducted to compare VVC group (60 cases) with normal group (60 cases). All of the women filled up the specific questionnaires. Routine examination, pH test and bacterial culture were done on the vaginal discharge. Cytokines of the vaginal lavage were measured by enzyme linked immanosorbent assay. Results (1) Outcomes of the questionnaires: there was no significant difference between the two groups in educational background,knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine (P >0. 05). The incidence of chronic cervicitis in normal group (43%, 26/60) was higher than in VVC group (22%, 13/60; P <0.05). (2) There was no difference in vaginal pH between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ). (3) Detection rate of candida albicans by vaginal discharge routine examination was 72% (43/60). (4) The concentrations of interleukin (IL) 2, and IL-4 in vaginal lavage did not show significant difference between the two groups ( P > 0. 05 ), but the concentrations of human defensin 5,human beta-defensin (HBD) 1, and HBD2 in WC group [(0.94±0.44) mg/L, (3.1±0.4) μg/L,(10±6) μg/L] were higher than normal group (P < 0.05). Conclusions VVC is a common vulvovaginitis. There is no significant correlation between the incidence of VVC and educational background,knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine in the child-bearing period. Human defensin may be closely correlated with the pathogenesis of VVC.

Objective To investigate the morbidity and characteristic of nosocomial infections in end stage renal disease(ESRD) patients undergoing blood purification.Methods Medical records of ESRD patients undergoing blood purification from 2004 to 2005 were enrolled in this retrospective study of hospitalized cases.The clinical data of nosocomial infections in hemodialysis (HD)and peritoneal dialysis(PD)patients were analyzed separately.Results Nosocomial infection was identified in 76 of the 400 enrolled patients.In HD patients,pulmonary infection was the most common nosocomial infection(53.3%),most due to gram-negative microorganisms,followed by bloodstream(16.7%)and urinary tract infection(15%),most of both were due to gram-positive bacteria.Pulmonary infection was usually complicated.Bloodstream infection was associated with the duration of placement of central vein catheters.Asymptomatic bacteriuria accounted for most of the urinary tract infection.In PD patients, most infections were pulmonary infection(65.5%),mainly caused by fungal pathogens,followed by peritonitis(20.7%), mainly due to gram-positive bacteria.Certain proportion of infections in both groups was caused by multiple microorganisms or identified in multiple sites.Conclusions The prevalence of nosocomial infection is high in hospitalized patients undergoing blood purification.The infection is complicated in terms of pathogen and clinical picture.Pulmonary infection is the most common in- fection.The prevalence of fungal infection is increasing.Effective prevention and therapeutic measures should be applied more vigorously in ESRD patients.

The chemical constituents isolated from Desmodium species (Leguminosae) included terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids compounds. Modem pharmacological studies have showed that the Desmodium species have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, diuretic, antipyretic, analgesic and choleretic activity. This article mainly has reviewed the research advances of chemical constituents and biological activities of Desmodium species since 2003.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Humans