Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug that inhibits hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase to control elevated cholesterol,or hypercholesterolemia.Previous studies have shown that simvastatin may attenuate inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury and sepsis.Herein,we hypothesized that simvastatin may prevent rats from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock.In our study,rats were divided into a saline group,an LPS group and an LPS plus simvastatin group.Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with simvastatin (1 mg/kg) for 30 min before the addition of LPS (8 mg/kg),with variations in left ventricular pressure recorded throughout.Ninety min after LPS injection,whole blood was collected from the inferior vena cava,and neutrophils were separated from the whole blood using separating medium.The neutrophils were then lysed for Western blotting to detect the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1).In addition,mesentery microcirculations of inlet diameter,outlet diameter and blood flow rate were measured in all three groups.The results indicated that simvastatin significantly promoted heart systolic function and increased the level ofuPA while simultaneously inhibited the expression of PAI-1 as compared with LPS group.Moreover,simvastatin reversed the LPS-induced inhibition of mesentery microcirculation.Taken together,it was suggested that simvastatin can effectively protect the rats from LPS-induced septic shock.

Objective To detect the expression levels of serum ITAC, Fractalkine, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-7 and TNF-α in patients with gastric cancer, and to explore correlation among them, as well as their association with different clinical characteristics.Methods The levels of the 6 kinds of cytokines in serum of 46 gastric cancer patients (gastric cancer group) and 30 healthy people (healthy control group) were detected.Results Compared with those in healthy control group, the levels of serum ITAC, Fractalkine, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-7 and TNF-α in gastric cancer group were significantly increased [22.26 (32.83) pg/ml vs 11.95 (9.99) pg/ml, P =0.001;62.21 (82.23) pg/ml vs 26.47 (50.87) pg/ml, P =0.050;4.50 (10.38) pg/ml vs 2.06 (3.17) pg/ml, P =0.002;0.83 (2.01) pg/ml vs 0.21 (0.85) pg/ml, P=0.013;3.46 (1.90) pg/ml vs 2.11 (1.48) pg/ml, P=0.001;1.21 (1.13) pg/ml vs 0.79 (0.37) pg/ml, P ＜ 0.001].There were correlations between cytokines (all P ＜ 0.05).The level of serum cytokines was no significant difference between gastric cancer patients with lymph node metastasis and those without lymph node metastasis (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The high level of serum ITAC, Fractalkine, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-7 or TNF-α may be related to the occurrence and development of gastric cancer.High level of serum IL-8 may be a marker of poor prognosis of gastric cancer, and interaction between the various cytokines also has a certain association with tumorigenesis.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus can cause oxidative stress, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes-associated ED by acting on blood vessel endothelia, peripheral nerves and smooth muscles and inducing cell apoptosis. Recent progress in the researches on the correlation of oxidative stress with diabetic ED is briefly reviewed in this article.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats

This paper is to report the exploration of the activation of Rho/ROCK signal pathway in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the inhibitory effect of m-Nis on this pathway. PASMCs were cultured with the explant technique. MTT assay was used to explore the proliferation of PASMCs after 5-HT treated for different time and the intervening effect of m-Nis. RT-PCR and Western blot were used respectively to explore the mRNA expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and the protein expression of p-MYPT1 in 5-HT-treated PASMCs and intervening effect of m-Nis. The results of MTT assay suggested that 5-HT (1 µmol · L(-1)) treatment for 12-72 h significantly induced the proliferation of rat PASMCs (P<0.05 or P < 0.01), which were inhibited by m-Nis (1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), l x 10(-7), 1 x10(-8) mol · L(-1)) in dose-dependent manners (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similarly, the mRNA expression of RhoA, ROCK1 and the protein expression of p-MYPT1 were also inhibited by m-Nis in different degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Thus, the results of this study suggested that Rho/ROCK pathway played an important role in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs, m-Nis inhibited 5-HT-induced proliferation obviously, which may be related to the blockage of Rho/ROCK signal pathway.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Nisoldipine ; pharmacology ; Protein Phosphatase 1 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; Rats ; Serotonin ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the outcomes of total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis performed by hand-assisted laparoscopic(HALS) and laparotomy.

METHODSClinical data of 78 patients undergoing HALS(n=36) or laparotomy(n=42) from January 2009 to June 2011 were retrospectively studied. All the operations were performed by the same surgical group. Patients safety, postoperative recovery, complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAs compared to laparotomy group, HALS group had longer operative time[(300.3±56.4) min vs. (227.2±34.0) min, P=0.001], less intraoperative bleeding[(150.2±42.2) ml vs. (213.5±61.0) ml, P=0.043], shorter interval to first flatus[(2.4±0.9) d vs. (3.1±1.2) d, P=0.026], and shorter hospital stay[(9.3±2.6) d vs. (11.6±3.4) d, P=0.039]. There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications such as anastomotic separation, hemorrhage, wound infection, pelvic sepsis, and intestinal obstruction between the two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHALS is as safe as open approach for total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and short-term outcomes are better than laparotomy.

Anal Canal ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Biopsy ; Colectomy ; Colonic Pouches ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To observe the effect of Ba Duan Jin(Eight-brocade Exercise)plus Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)in treating primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students and on the score of fatigue scale-14(FS-14). Methods:Seventy-two female college students with primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis were randomized into a Tuina group and a joint group,with 36 cases in each group.The Tuina group only received Tuina manipulations.In the joint group,besides the same Tuina manipulations,patients practiced Ba Duan Jin.For both groups,the once-daily intervention was conducted from 6 d before the menstrual period until menstrual day 1 for 3 menstrual cycles.Changes in the scores of COX menstrual symptom scale(CMSS),visual analog scale(VAS),and FS-14 after the intervention were observed.Clinical efficacy was also estimated. Results:During the process,1 case dropped out in the Tuina group,and 35 cases completed the intervention;2 cases dropped out in the joint group,and 34 cases completed the intervention.The total effective rate was 94.1%in the joint group,higher than 88.6%in the Tuina group(P<0.05).After treatment,the symptom duration and intensity scores in the scores of CMSS,VAS,and FS-14 declined in both groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the CMSS symptom duration score and FS-14 score were lower in the joint group than in the Tuina group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina manipulations alone or combined with Ba Duan Jin practice can effectively treat primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students;when combined with Ba Duan Jin practice,Tuina manipulations can more significantly improve pain duration and fatigue,suggesting the advantages of combining Tuina Gongfa and manipulations.

OBJECTIVETo investigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute cerebral inflammatory damage and the therapeutic effect of ginkgolide B (BN52021).

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10 for each group): Control group, Model group and Treatment group (treated with BN52021). LPS were injected into the fourth ventricle of rat to make a neuroinflammatory murine model. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of rats; changes of synapse number and subcellular ultrastructures were observed under a transmission electron microscope; OX-42 positive microglia in the brain was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe average escape latency in the Treatment group were significantly shortened than that in the Model group; and the percentage of swimming distance traveled in platform quadrant accounting for total distance increased markedly. The rough endoplasmic reticulum and polyribosomes in the Treatment group were more than that in the Model group, but the number of synapses seemed to have no obvious change. The number of OX-42 positive microglia in the Treatment group decreased markedly than that in the Model group, and the grey density of OX-42-positive cells increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONLPS can induce inflammatory damages to the brain, but the damage could be antagonized by BN52021. Platelet activating factor receptor antagonist may offer an effective therapy for neurodegeneration diseases.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Ginkgolides ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Lactones ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Microglia ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neurons ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Platelet Activating Factor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; antagonists & inhibitors

BACKGROUNDGenioglossal dysfuntion takes an important role in pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in which chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the major pathological origin. Recent studies have suggested genioglossal injury induced by CIH might be improved by adiponectin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin on genioglossus contractile properties in rats exposed to CIH.

METHODSThirty-nine healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control (NC), CIH and adiponectin supplement (CIH+Ad) with 13 rats in each. Rats in NC were kept breathing normal air, while rats in CIH and CIH+Ad experienced the same CIH environment eight hours per day for 35 successive days. Rats in CIH+Ad were given intravenous adiponectin of 10 µg twice a week for 30 successive days. Rats in the NC and CIH were injected with normal saline as a control. After 35 days' CIH exposure, the levels of serum adiponectin and genioglossus contractile properties were compared.

RESULTSSerum adiponectin level was significantly lower in CIH than in NC (1210 ng/ml vs. 2236 ng/ml). Serum adiponectin level in CIH+Ad (1844 ng/ml) was significantly higher than CIH but lower than NC. Twitch tension, time to peak tension, half relaxation time and tetanic tension were significantly lower in CIH than NC and improved in CIH+Ad. All mean tetanic fatigue indices decreased more rapidly in the first 20 seconds than during the subsequent 100 seconds. Tetanic fatigue indices in NC and CIH+Ad were significantly higher compared to CIH.

CONCLUSIONSCIH could lead to hypoadiponectinaemia, impaired genioglossus contractile properties and decreased fatigue resistance in rats. Such changes could be partially offset by supplementation of adiponectin.

Adiponectin ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Hypoxia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

Gamboge, the resin of Garcinia hanburyi has had a long history of use as the traditional dye as well as a complementary and alternative medicine. The antitumor activities of gamboge have been well demonstrated by inhibiting the growth and progression of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In order to further clarify the mode of action of gamboge, there are three key questions needed to be answered, including what's in gamboge? How do the chemical components from gamboge work on cancer cells? How do biological systems work on the chemical components from gamboge after administration? In this review, we summarize the explorations of the answers toward these questions according to the recent progress in both of chemistry and biology research of gamboge. In addition, the implication in the future research and discovery of the caged G. xanthones as anticancer agents is also discussed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Garcinia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differently expressed Homeobox genes between lingual squmaous cell carcinoma and normal mucosa.

METHODSSeven paired specimens including lingual squmaous cell carcinoma and its surrounding normal tissue were obtained from 7 patients. Customized Oligo microarray which contains numerous probes of 232 human Homeobox genes was used to analyse the results. All datas were scanned by Agilent scanner and differentiately expressed genes were sorted out.

RESULTSHomeobox gene NANOG was found up-regulated in 5 samples. PHTF2 was found down-regulated in 7 samples, and CRX, PITX1, OTEX was found down-regulated in 5 samples.

CONCLUSIONAs the key gene to cellular proliferation and differentiation, Homeobox genes is closely releverant to the oncogenesis of lingual squmaous cell carcinoma.

Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Homeobox ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane