The contribution of particles to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity has been enlightened by epidemiologic and experimental studies. However, adverse biological effects of the particles with different sizes on cardiovascular cells have not been well recognized. In this study, sub-cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to increasing concentrations of pure quartz particles (DQ) of three sizes (DQPM1, <1 μm; DQPM3-5, 3-5 μm; DQPM5, 5 μm) and carbon black particles of two sizes (CB0.1, <0.1 μm; CB1, <1 μm) for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was estimated by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cell viability. Nitric oxide (NO) generation and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) releases were analyzed by using NO assay and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. It was found that both particles induced adverse biological effects on HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. The size of particle directly influenced the biological activity. For quartz, the smaller particles induced stronger cytotoxicity and higher levels of cytokine responses than those particles of big size. For carbon black particles, CB0.1 was more capable of inducing adverse responses on HUVECs than CB1 only at lower particle concentrations, in contrast to those at higher concentrations. Meanwhile, our data also revealed that quartz particles performed stronger cell damage and produced higher levels of TNF-α than carbon black particles, even if particles size was similar. In conclusion, particle size as well as particle composition should be both considered in assessing vascular endothelial cells injury and inflammation responses induced by particles.

Voltage-gated sodium channels are critical for the generation and conduction of nerve impulses. Recent studies show that in primary sensory neurons, the expression and dynamic regulation of several sodium channel subtypes play important roles in neuropathic pain. A number of SCN9A (encoding Nav1.7) gene point mutations are related with human genetic pain disorders. Transgenic and specific knockout techniques have revealed that Nav1.3, Nav1.8, Nav1.9 are important for the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain condition. Specific blockers of these sodium channels have been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating allodynia and hyperalgesia. Here we reviewed the roles of sodium channels in neuropathic pain, which may be applicable for the development of new drugs with enhanced efficacy for neuropathic pain treatment.
Animals ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on post stroke depres- sion (PSD) after lacunar infarction (LI).Methods Seventy-five PSD patients with lacular infarction were recruited and randomly divided into a control group and an EA group.All patients were treated with Fluoxetine,in addition to EA treat- ment in the EA group.Then all patients were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD),the Chinese stroke scale (CSS) and the Barthel Index (BI).The evaluations were carried out at 0,14 and 28 days.Results Depression symptoms (DSs) in the EA group were improved by day 14 of the treatment,and their HAMD scores had decreased.DSs in both groups had improved significantly by day 28,and the HAMD scores in the EA group were then significantly lower than those in the control group.Improvements in neurological impairment and in the activities of daily living were observed earlier in the EA group.Conclusion The combination of EA and Fluoxetine is helpful for PSD with complex patho- genesis and clinical symptoms.Therapeutic effects are enhanced and side effects are reduced.

This study was aimed to observe the natural history and evolution of cervical spondylotic myelopa-thy , explore development law of the disease incidence in order to improve the understanding of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and provide a theoretical basis for Chinese medicine treatment . Complete clinical data of 80 cervical spondylotic myelopathy cases were collected from March 1998 to July 2007 in special and ex-pert practice of Prof . Shi's out-patient department . Chinese medicine for q i-blood regulation was given in the treatment . Related measuring scales were designed . More than two-month follow-up was given through means of returning visit, telephone calls and letter inquiries. Changes of clinical symptoms, and scores of different types of evaluations were observed . The SPSS software was used in the data analysis of results from measuring scales for the objective evaluation . The results showed that there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between initial visiting and first time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visiting . For patients who continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treat-ment, there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treatment , the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visit-ing . In this group of patients , there were no statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score be-tween the patient's initial visiting , first time follow-up , and the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . The scores on spinal cord function suggested that there was no obvious difference on the relieving degree between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . For patients who were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, no matter if it was full score on the spinal cord function in the first-time follow-up , there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time and second-time follow-up . It suggested that the disease became worse when patients were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment. It was concluded that Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy has a significant effect in both short-term and long-term treatment with steady effectiveness. Patients who continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment not only can prevent disease recurrence , but also can promote further relieving of disease condition .

OBJECTIVECurrent study was conducted to investigate and compare the impact of temperature and pH on the activities of amylase, protease and lipase in alimentary tract of Whitmania pigra.

METHODThe responses of amylase, protease, and lipase activities were determined over a wide range of temperatures (7-52 degrees C) and pH gradient (2.2-11.2).

RESULTThe highest lipase activity was found under 37 degrees C, pH 8.2, and the highest amylase activity was detected under 37 degrees C, pH 5.2, while protease activity peaked at 42 degrees C, pH 3.2 or pH 9.2.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal temperature in alimentary tract of Wh. pigra for lipase and amylase was 37 degrees C, and the responding temperature for protease was 42 degrees C. The optimal pH value in alimentary tract of Wh. pigra for lipase and amylase was pH 8.2 and pH 5.2, respectively. While pH 3.2 or 9.2 seems to be both favorable for high protease activity.

Amylases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Animals ; Digestive System ; chemistry ; enzymology ; Enzyme Stability ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Leeches ; chemistry ; enzymology ; Lipase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Temperature

The purpose of our present work was to study the discharge of bursting-firing neurons (BFNs) in ipsilateral or contralateral hippocampus (HPC), and its relations to the reestablishment of local epileptic networks. The experiments were performed on 140 Sprague Dawley male rats (150-250 g). Acute tetanization (60 Hz, 2 s, 0.4 -0.6 mA) of the right posterior dorsal hippocampus (ATPDH) was administered to establish rat epilepsy model. The single unit discharges and the depth electrographs were simultaneously recorded from ipsilateral or contralateral HPC. In other experimental rats, acute tetanization of the right anterior dorsal HPC (ATADH) was used. Extracellular unit discharges in the CA1 region were simultaneously recorded from bilateral anterior dorsal hippocampi. Analysis of hippocampal BFN firing patterns before or after administration of the tetanization was focused on according to their location in the HPC epileptic networks in vivo. Single unit discharges of 138 hippocampal neurons were recorded from ipsilateral and/or contralateral anterior dorsal HPC. Of the 138 neurons recorded, 19 were BFNs. 13 BFNs were tetanus-evoked and the remaining 6 were spontaneous ones. The evoked reactions of the single hippocampal neuron induced by the tetanization mainly included: (1) the firing patterns of the BFNs in ipsilateral anterior dorsal HPC were obviously modulated by the ATPDH from tonic firing into rhythmic bursting. The bursting interspike intervals (BISI) decreased. (2) There were mild modulations of the firing patterns of the BFNs in contralateral anterior dorsal HPC following post-inhibition of the firing rate of single neuron induced by the ATPDH. The interspike intervals (ISI) increased obviously. (3) Post-facilitation of rhythmic bursting-firing of the BFNs in contralateral anterior dorsal HPC was induced by ATADH; both the ISI and the IBI increased. (4) Synchronous or asynchronous rhythmic bursting-firing of the BFNs and the network epileptiform events ipsilateral or contralateral anterior dorsal HPC were elicited by the ATPDH. The results obtained suggest that bursting-firing of single BFNs is produced by the ATPDH in the anterior dorsal HPC along the longitudinal axis of the ipsilateral HPC or across the hemisphere to the opposite HPC. Rhythmic activities of the BFN may be implicated in the epileptic network reestablishment of the HPC. On the other hand, synaptic modulation of the BFN temporal series might be responsible for pathophysiological information transmission in the HPC-epileptic network.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrophysiology ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; physiopathology ; Evoked Potentials ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nerve Net ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synaptic Transmission

Objective To find the effective therapeutic arrangement through investigating the clinical characteristics of chronic cardiac insufficiency with anaemia. Methods A total of 46 cases of anemia from 315patients who had been admitted to department of cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University for chronic cardiac insufficiency with anaemia were selected. They were divided into two groups. There were 22 patients in the first group who only accepted treatment to improve cardiac function (normal cardiac, diuretic,vasodilator therapy, etc.), and 24 patients in the second group who accepted treatment to improve cardiac function while receiving anti-anemia therapy treatment, oral ferrous sulfate tablets(0.3 g/tablet), 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day and(or) 2 times per week subcutaneous erythropoietin 3000 U. The hemoglobin(Hb), red blood cell(RBC) ,hematocrit (HCT), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV) , cardiac output(CO) and E peak and A peak ratio(E/A) were observed before and after treatment. By logistic regression, grade grade Ⅱ , Ⅲ , Ⅳ, the incidence of anaemia were 7.9% (10/126), 19.2% (23/120) and 24.6% (17/69),respectively. Grade Ⅱ compared with grades Ⅲ, Ⅳ, the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 4.08, 3.12, all (3.49 ± 0.17) × 1012/L, (0.36 ± 0.08)%, (48.9 ± 3.11)%, (15.6 ± 1.8)%, (38.9 ± 3.7)%, (4.4 ± 1.6)% and (130.7 ±5.75)g/L, (4.12 ± 0.25) × 1012/L, (0.43 ± 0.02)%, (58.5 ± 2.65)%, (18.0 ± 2.5)%, (49.1 ± 7.7)%, (5.1 ± 1.2)%in the first and second groups, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(t =value of Hb, RBC, HCT, LVEF, FS,SV, CO were (102.7 ± 6.93)g/L, (3.41 ± 0.12) × 1012/L, (0.35 ± 0.07)%,(47.5 ± 2.86)%, (16.0 ± 2.4)%, (38.2 ± 7.9)%, (3.7 ± 1.4)%, respectively. Compared with those after treatment,the difference was statistically significant (t = 15.632, 13.325, 5.569, 17.182, 3.186, 2.999, 3.074, all P ＜ 0.05);Ⅳ-level relative risk were 1.62, 3.14(P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01) . Conclusions Based on the standard treatment with treatment of anemia, cardiac contractile function can be improved.

Background & Objective:Background &Objective: The class Ⅰ Alcohol Dehydrogenases (ADH) play a key role in hepatic alcohol catabolism. Human ADH is encoded by at least seven genes, and three class Ⅰ ADH genes-ADH1, ADH2 and ADH3, which encode the α, β, and γ subunit respectively, had been isolated and mapped on chromosome 4q21-q25. This experiment tends to clone the human class Ⅰ ADH and investigate its role in the hepatic alcohol catabolism. Methods: A pair of primers were designed and the full-length cDNAs encoding human Class Ⅰ ADH were cloned at one time. Class Ⅰ ADH cDNAs were amplified with RT-PCR from total RNA extracted from fetal human liver and kidney, and cloned into pGEM-T vector. To identify cDNA segments, a pair of differential primers was designed. By using them, a portion of the ADHs which encodes the segment from -4 to 296 was cloned. These cDNA segments then were detected directly when being digested with Kpn Ⅰ and Pst Ⅰ, respectively. Then all the full-length cDNAs were subcloned in the plasmid pTYB11 and expressed in E. Coli. Stably. Alcohol Dehydrogenase activity of catalyzing alcohol were monitored at 340 nm. Results: Here we had successfully the human class Ⅰ ADH cloned and the full-length cDNAs expressed in E.col.I stably. The relative activity of recombinant enzymes metabolizing ethanol was 0.81 ～1.31 U/mg,0.09 ～0.15 U/mg and 0.76～1.11 U/mg, respectively. Conclusions: In the paper, the full-length cDNAs encoding human class Ⅰ AD H were successfully cloned and expressed and the recombinant enzymes showed the activities similar to the ones isolated from liver.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

METHODSDescriptive epidemic method was used to analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of laboratory-confirmed cases with hand,foot and mouth disease.

RESULTSThe epidemiological characteristics 113 cases were the same as epidemic situation at the same time in Anji county. Clinical characteristics were difference in different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

CONCLUSIONPrevention and control work taken should according to the characteristics of the disease, such as early identification of severe cases, handling and controlling over the outbreaks in order to reduce the severe cases and the death.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; mortality ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

To observe the serum samples and the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripterygium wilfordii in treating RA by using the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model, make a correlation analysis on concentration-time and effect-time curves, and explore RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in rats by PCR. Methotrexate, tripterine and high-dose T. wilfordii could down-regulate RORγt, IL-17, STAT3, IL-6 mRNA transcriptional levels in AA rat lymph nodes. The study on PK-PD model showed correlations between inflammatory factors and blood concentration of T. wilfordii. T. wilfordii and its main active constituent tripterine could show the inflammatory effect and treat RA by inhibiting IL-17 cytokine.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tripterygium ; Triterpenes ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology