Objective To investigate the production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension(PAH).Methods Fourteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (7 cases for each group):control group and MCT group.Rats in the MCT group were intraperitoneally injected with MCT (60 mg/kg) on day 1 while rats in the control group received only the same volume of 9 g/L saline.And then the conventional breeding was given for 21 days.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was evaluated via right cardiac catheterization procedure.The ratio of right ventricular mass (RV) and left ventricular plus septal mass (LV + SP) [RV/(LV + SP)] was calculated.The morphological change of pulmonary artery was observed by applying hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining on the lung tissue paraffin section by measuring relative media thickness (RMT) and relative media area (RMA) of pulmonary aetery.H2S contents in serum and lung tissue rat were detected by using free radicals detector.The expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE),a key enzyme catalyzing endogenous H2S generaion,in lung tissue was detected by using Western blot method.CSE mRNA level in lung was detected by adopting the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.Results Compared with control group,mPAP of rats in MCT group was increased significantly [(49.31 ±3.67) mmHg vs (14.31 ±2.07) mmHg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),P ＜ 0.01] and the ratio of RV/(LV + SP) was increased (0.43 ± 0.03 vs 0.21 ± 0.03,P ＜ 0.01),while RMT and RMA of pulmonary artery were enlarged [(43.46 ± 1.94) μm vs (13.16 ± 1.48) μm,P ＜ 0.01;(3 321.10 ± 318.20) μm2 vs (963.40 ± 127.26) μm2,P ＜0.01].The evaluation of microstructure of pulmonary artery showed that the vessel wall of pulmonary artery in control rats was thin and no inflammatory cell was observed around artery.However,the vessel wall of pulmonary artery in rats of MCT group was thickened and there was evident infiltration of inflammatory cells in perivascular area.Compared with control group,H2S contents in serum and lung tissue of rats in MCT group were markedly decreased [(9.28 ± 0.94) μmol/L vs (14.20 ± 1.21) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01;(0.43 ± 0.08) μmol/g protein vs (0.87 ±0.17) μmol/g protein,P ＜0.01],while CSE protein and mRNA expression in lung tissue of rats in MCT group were downregulated (0.14 ± 0.02 vs 0.28 ± 0.09,P ＜ 0.01;0.84 ± 0.06 vs 1.12 ± 0.04,P ＜ 0.01).Condusion Endogenous H2S pathway is significantly downregulated in rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Objective To observe the effect of motivation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on cardiac function in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Eighty MI patients were sellectedand then were divided into a conventional treatment group (n = 40) and a EPC motivation group (n = 40). EPCs were detected by flow cytometry. Results The rate of EPCs was increased from (0.11 ± 0.04)% in the baseline to (5.32 ± 1.06)% (P < 0.05). Before treatment, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD did not differ significantly between the conventional treatment group and the EPC motivation group (P > 0.05); after treatment, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD were significantly increased in both groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). However, 6MWT, LVEF, and LVEDD were higher in the EPC motivation group than in the conventional treatment group (P <0.05). The clinical effectiveness rate was higher in the EPC motivation group than in the conventional treatment group (90.0% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in adverse reactions (7.5%vs. 10.0%, P > 0.05). Conclusions G-CSF can markedly motivate EPCs, which is beneficial for improvement of cardiac function in MI patients.

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) on collagen accumulation in pulmonary arterial fibroblasts of rats and its mechanisms.Methods Primary rat pulmonary artery fibroblasts were used in the experiment and were divided into 3 groups:the control group,the L-aspartate-beta-hydroxamate(HDX) group and the HDX ± SO2 group.SO2 content of pulmonary artery fibroblasts supernatant was detected by adopting high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅲ in pulmonary artery fibroblasts were determined by using immunofluorescence.Phosphorylation of Smad2/3,protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP)-1 were detected by using Western blot.One-way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparisons followed by Bonferroni test for each group.P ＜ 0.05 was considered as significant difference.Results Compared with control group,endogenous SO2 content in HDX group was significantly decreased [(14.30-± 0.48) μmol/L vs.(20.14 ± 0.49) μμmol/L,P ＜ 0.01],the level of Smad2/3 increased (1.03 ±0.31 vs.0.48 ± 0.20,P ＜ 0.01),protein expressions of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in pulmonary artery fibroblasts were decreased (MMP-13:0.28 ± 0.06 vs.0.75 ± 0.11,P ＜ 0.01;TIMP-1:0.40 ± 0.05 vs.0.66 ± 0.20,P ＜ 0.01),and the ratio of MMP-13/TIMP-1 was decreased (0.71 ± 0.12 vs.1.23 ± 0.45,P ＜0.01).However,contents of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ were significantly increased.Compared with HDX group,the level of Smad2/3 phosphorylation in HDX ± SO2 group decreased (0.57 ± 0.16 vs.1.03 ± 0.31,P ＜ 0.01),protein expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 upregulated (MMP-13:0.63 ± 0.06 vs.0.28 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.01;0.59 ± 0.11 vs.0.40 ± 0.05,P =0.015),the ratio of M MP-13/TIMP-1 (1.10 ± 0.22 vs.0.71 ± 0.12,P =0.033) increased,but contents of collagen type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ were reduced obviously.Conclusions SO2 promotes the degradation of collagen and collagen accumulation in pulmonary artery fibroblasts of rats probably by inhibiting Smad2/3 signal pathway,increasing protein expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1,and upregulating the ratio of MMP-13/TIMP-1.

Objective To investigate the role of calpain in the spinal dorsal horn in development of paw inflammatory pain in rats.Methods Forty-eight male SD rats,aged 6 weeks,weighing 160-200 g,were randomly divided into three groups:normal control group(group C,n =8),PBS group( n =16),zymosan-induced paw inflammatory pain group (group Z,n =24).Inflammatory pain was induced by injection of zymosan 1.25 mg into the plantar surface of left hindpaw.Group PBS received the equal volume of PBS 100 μl.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT),paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) and maximum thickness of the plantar surface of left hindpaw were measured before (T0 ) and at 30 min,1,2,4,8,24 and 48 h(T1-7 ) after zymosan or PBS injection.Eight rats were sacrificed at T4 in group PBS and at T4.6,7 in group Z respectively.The left lumbar segment (L4-6) was removed to determination of spectrin α Ⅱ breakdown products,IκBα,cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)expression and NF-κB activity in the spinal dorsal horn by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,MWT and PWTL were significantly decreased,maximum thickness of paw and NF-κB activity in the spinal dorsal horn were significantly increased,spectrin α Ⅱ breakdown products and COX-2 expression in the spinal dorsal horn were upregulated,while IκBα expression was down-regulated in group Z( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ),but no significant change was found in group PBS( P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The activation of calpain in the spinal dorsal horn is involved in the development of paw inflammatory pain in rats through activating NF-κB and up-regulating the expression of COX-2.

0.05).The different tilt angles impacted patients' fear psychology(?2=8.038,P=0.018).The order of the extent of children's fear psychology represented from low to high at the angle of 60?,70? and 80?,respectively.The extent of the children's fear psychology had positive correlation with the tilt angle(r=0.669,P=0.002).Conclusions The tilt test angle does not affect the positive rate of HUTT and the hemodynamics in children undergoing HUTT with angles from 60? to 80?.The children at the tilt angle 60? had less fear than at the angle of 70? or 80?.The 60? tilt angle of HUTT in children is recommended in the clinical practice.

AIM To explore pharmacokinetics of Berberine in YL2000 in normal and febrile rats. METHODS The levels of Berberine in plasma were measured through HPLC and secondary parameters were obtained by fitting the dose time data of Berberine making use of 3P87 programme. RESULTS In normal and febrile rats, the plasma concentration of Berberine was peaked at (3 4?0 3) h vs (0 3?2 1) h( P

AIM To determine the dynamic changes of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in various brain regions of cerebral ischemia reperfusion mice. METHODS Concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and metabolites were determined by HPLC-ECD on d 0,1,3,5 and d 20 after cerebral ischemia reperfusion by common carotid artery occlusion. RESULTS The cerebral ischemia reperfusion mice showed decreased concentrations of NE, MHPG, DA, DOPAC, 5-HT and 5-HIAA in various brain regions, especially in hippocampus. CONCLUSION Several neuron systems play an important role in neurons damage of cerebral ischemia reperfusion, especially the NE and DA in hippocampus which is sensitive to the ischemia damage. The data offer useful guides for clinical treatments of cerebral ischemia diseases.

The morphology,cultural characteristics,physiological and biochemical properties of phosphate solubilizing strain BL-11 were studied.Combine with its 16S rDNA sequence analysis result strain BL-11 was identified as Brevibacillus laterosporus.Results showed that the phosphate solubilizing efficiency of strain BL-11was up to 10.91% when with Ca_ 3 (PO_ 3 )_ 2 as the sole phosphorus source in the medium,while the efficiency of that was up to 1.56% when with sands as the sole phosphorus source.An optimal media of BL-11 strain for solubilizing phosphate was obtained by orthogonal test.It was composed of sugar 20g/L,(NH_ 4 )_ 2 HCO_ 3 0.3g/L,MgSO_ 4 .7H_ 2 O 0.5g/L,NaCl 0.3{g/L},KCl 0.5g/L,FeSO_ 4 0.03g/L,MnSO_ 4 .H_ 2 O 0.03{g/L.}_ While other conditions were consisted of initial pH7.0-8.0,180 r/min,and 30℃.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and side effects of Shelian capsule (SLC) as adjuvant of embolismic chemotherapy on primary hepatic carcinoma.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with hepatic carcinoma were conducted arterial embolismic chemotherapy with FAM program for two therapeutic cycles. The 60 patients in the treated group were taken SLC orally for auxiliary treatment, and the other 60 in the control group were given glucurolactone instead. The tumor size, Karnofsky score, clinical symptoms, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), NK cell, T cell-subgroup and adverse effect before and after treatment between the two groups were compared respectively.

RESULTSAs compared with the control group, in the treated group the Karnofsky score was better ((P < 0.05) and the remission rate of clinical symptom were superior (66.7% vs 88.3 %, P < 0.05). The ratio of CD4/CD8 and NK cell activity was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no obvious adverse effect in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONSLC can effectively enhance the immunity of patients with tumor, remit clinical symptoms, improve quality of life and without any side effects.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; Capsules ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Phytotherapy

BACKGROUNDPostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common clinical problem in children and adolescents. The previous diagnostic approach to POTS of children and adolescents is based on a series of tests to exclude all other causes, which is time and medical resource consuming. Recently, a new diagnostic approach has been developed. The present study was designed to statistically analyze the results of clinical investigation items and the cost for the diagnosis of POTS in children patients, and evaluate cost changes in the diagnosis of POTS.

METHODSA total of 315 children patients were divided into two groups according to diagnosis period, including group I diagnosed in 2002 - 2006 (100 cases) and group II in 2007 - 2010 (215 cases) and the diagnostic item-based distribution of the cost was analyzed. The diagnostic costs were compared between two groups using SPSS17.0.

RESULTSThe per-capita cost of diagnosis in group I was (621.95 ± 21.10) Yuan, costs of diagnostic tests (head-up tilt test, standing test, etc) accounted for 8.68% and the exclusive tests for 91.32%. The per-capita cost of diagnosis in group II was (542.69 ± 23.14) Yuan, diagnostic tests accounted for 10.50% and exclusive tests for 89.50%. Comparison of the total cost of diagnostic tests between the two groups showed significant differences (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cost of POTS diagnosis has been declined in recent years, but the cost of exclusive diagnosis is still its major part.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; economics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ; diagnosis ; economics ; Public Health ; economics