Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Systems Theory

At present ventricular remodeling (VR) is regarded as the main pathological basis of chronic heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and preventing VR after AMI is of great importance for the prevention of heart failure. Previously, it has not been paid enough attention to the role of inflammation and autoimmune injury during the process of VR after AMI. This topic was discussed in the paper and the treating strategies with Chinese and Western medicine were also explored.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

The mechanism of injury on the human glomerular endothelial cells (ciGENC) induced by preeclampsia serum was investigated. Concentration of maternal serum sFlt-1 protein was detected by ELISA. Fluorescently-labeled bovine serum albumin infiltrating through lower chamber of Transwell was measured by multifunction microplate reader. Morphologic change of ciGENC was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. The concentration of sflt-1 in preeclampsia groups was significantly increased as compared with control group (P<0.01). Permeability in preeclampsia groups was significantly increased as compared with control group (P<0.01). By contrast with severe preeclampsia group, the permeability of ciGENC monolayer in mild preeclampsia group was decreased significantly (P<0.05). Intervention of exogenous VEGF significantly decreased permeability of ciGENC in preeclampsia groups. It was concluded that sFlt-1 increased ciGENC permeability by damaging integrity of endothelial barrier function.

This study examined the effect of over-expression of sFlt-1 by trophoblasts on the barrier function of glomerular endothelial cells and the role of VEGF in this process in order to explore the pathogenesis of glomerular disease in preeclampsia. SFlt-1 expression in the human trophoblasts (TEV-1 cells) was enhanced by transfecting sFlt-1 plasmid DNA into TEV-1 cells. The monolayer barrier function of glomerular endothelial cells (ciGEnCs) was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) that crossed the monolayer of glomerular endothelial cells. The results showed that the over-expression of sFlt-1 by TEV-1 cells led to the barrier dysfunction of ciGEnCs, and the exogenous VEGF could alleviate the ciGEnCs dysfunction resulting from the over-expression of sFlt-1 to a certain extent. It was concluded that the dysregulation of sFlt-1 and VEGF in preeclamptic pregnancy may contribute to the barrier dysfunction of glomerular endothelial cells, and VEGF may play an important role in maintaining the barrier function of glomerular endothelial cells, but it may not be the sole factor.

By analyzing the present situation and existing problems in the material bases of syndrome and Chinese materia medica, we think that either syndrome or prescription is a complex whole system. Studies of the material bases of syndrome and prescription should be established on the combination of disease and syndrome, following the holistic and dynamic principles. Departure from the holistic principle, separating the syndrome from the prescription, ignoring the dynamic concepts may possibly lose the features and advantages of syndrome typing and Chinese medicine preparations. The metabolomics research bridges the study of prescription and syndrome. It is of great significance in finding out the agreeable point of disease-syndrome-efficacy, establishing a dynamic research method with combination of disease and syndrome, correspondence of prescription and syndrome.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Research

This study investigated the effect of epigenetic modification of maspin on extravillous trophoblastic function. The mRNA expression of maspin in placentae from normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women was detected by RT-PCR. TEV-1 cells, a human first-trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line, were cultured and treated with CoCl(2) (300 μmol/L) to induce chemical hypoxia and with 5-aza (500 nmol/L) to induce demethylation. The mRNA expression of maspin in TEV-1 cells subjected to different treatments was determined by RT-PCR, and the proliferative and migratory abilities of TEV-1 cells were assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. Our results showed that the maspin mRNA expression level in placentae from preeclamptic women was much higher than that from normotensive women. CoCl(2) or 5-aza could up-regulate the mRNA expression of maspin and significantly suppress the proliferation and migration of TEV-1 cells. It was concluded that the epigenetic modification in promoter region of maspin contributes to incomplete trophoblast invasion, which offers a novel approach for predicting and treating placental dysfunction.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in neuronavigation surgery of brain tumors involving pyramidal tracts.

METHODSForty-nine patients with brain tumors involving pyramidal tracts were randomly divided into trial group (DTI navigation) and control group (traditional navigation). The patients in trial group underwent DTI and T1 weighted 3D navigational magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. The main white matter tracts were constructed by the DTI datasets, and merged to the anatomical structure, which was delineated by the T1-weighted three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient recalled sequence (3D/FSPGR). The relationship between the tumors and adjacent pyramidal tracts were segmented and reconstructed for three-dimensional visualization.

RESULTSIn 25 patients of trial group and 24 patients of control group, the statistic analysis confirmed well balance of main variations. The tumors were completely resected in 12 patients (50.0%) of control group and in 20 patients (80.0%) of trial group (P < 0.05). Postoperative aggravated contralateral extremities weakness or hemiplegia due to pyramidal tract injury occurring in 75.0% cases of control group whereas only 20.0% patients in trial group (P < 0.01). The mean Karnofsky scale were 69.58 +/- 23.49 and 84.80 +/- 23.49 respectively in control and trial groups (P < 0.05). The excellent outcome ratio (Karnofsky scale = 90 - 100) was 37.5% in control group and 72.0% in trial group respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDTI allows individual estimation of large fiber tracts of brain. Furthermore, to integrate spatial three-dimensional information concerning the white matter tracts into traditional neuronavigation images during surgery, was valuable in presenting topographical character of involving (shift or erosive) pyramidal tracts and relationship with the margins of neighboring tumors. The mapping of large fiber tracts was a safe, efficient, reliable technique. DTI should be routinely used in neuronavigation surgery of brain tumor involving pyramidal tracts to plan the optimal trajectory and ensure total resection of the lesions during operation, as well as to decrease potential disability after operation and to shorten the length of hospitalization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuronavigation ; methods ; Pyramidal Tracts ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo assess the results of multi-technique with intact canal and scute rebuild operation for middle ear cholesteatoma.

METHODSAnalysis of 113 cases (males 60, females 53, with mean 42.7 years old), of which with double ears of 11 cases, and totally 124 ears (11 ears for one review, an ear for third time review, and totally 137 operations) was retrospectively performed. Ten cases less than 19 years old were operated from September 2001 to January 2006 for middle ear cholesteatoma as well as ossiculoplasty with intact canal and scute rebuild etc multi-technique. All cases were followed up for a mean (36.58 +/- 20.47) months.

RESULTSThere were 118 ears (95.2%) without cholesteatoma recurrence. Six ears were found cholesteatoma recurrence. Other 6 post-operation ears with drum re-perforation and hearing drop were re-operated. The pre-operation air-bone gap (ABG, average of 0.5, 1, 2 kHz) of 124 ears, with in initial 112 ears, was (33. 61 +/- 12.35) dB, while that of post-operation ABG was (13.58 +/- 9. 27) dB, by partnership t test, t = 18.35, P < 0.01. The pre-operation ABG in reviewed 12 ears at the first pre-operation was (38.83 +/- 12.43) dB, but post-operation ABG (10.38 +/- 8.99) dB, by partnership t test, t = 5.38, P = 0.00022. The ABG closure to within 20 dB was tested in 100 ears while ABG over 20 dB but air conduct (AC) in 40 dB was in 6 ears, and then as succeed was in 106 ears (85.5%). ABG closure within 10 dB was in 50 ears and though ABG over 10 dB but ABG reduced over 30 dB was in 9 ears (59/124, 47.6%) as which as best result. Bone conduct (BC) threshold was tested of 21 ears (16.93%) with raise 1-9 dB, of 42 ears (33.9%) with no change and of 61 ears (49.2%) with descend 1-28 dB. Of 10 cases less than 19 years old post-operation ABG was (8.80 +/- 5.27) dB, which indicated that all cases was as succeed.

CONCLUSIONSUsing intact canal and scute rebuild etc multi-technique a normal canal, hearing improvement and very low recurrent could be gained for middle ear cholesteatoma, especially in juvenile and children. The multi-technique should be almost no damage for hearing bone conduct.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of exercise stress on chronic cigarette smoking induced downregulation of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BKca) and voltage-dependent delayed rectifier potassium channel (Kv1.5) expression in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of rats.

METHODSRats were divided into three groups: the normal control group, the smoking control group and the smoking + exercise group. The plasma cortisol level, the potassium channel expression and the pathological changes in lung tissue were determined with HE staining, the immunohistochemistry and the in-situ hybridization.

RESULTS(1) In the smoking + exercise group, the plasma cortisol level was determined immediately after exercise [(1528.7 +/- 469.7) ng/L] and was higher than that determined before exercise [(672.4 +/- 235.7) ng/L] (P < 0.01); (2) The HE staining showed that the chronic pulmonary inflammatory response in the smoking control group was severe while it was mild in the smoking + exercise group; (3) The mRNA and protein expression (OD value) of BKca in the smoking control group (mRNA: 0.2206 +/- 0.0415 for big artery and 0.3935 +/- 0.1378 for small artery; protein: 0.2634 +/- 0.1219 for big artery and 0.0995 +/- 0.0851 for small artery) were less than those in the normal control group. The mRNA expression of BKca in the smoking + exercise group (OD value) (0.5022 +/- 0.1134 for big artery and 0.6408 +/- 0.2135 for small artery) was higher than that in the smoking control group; (4) The mRNA and protein expression of Kv1.5 in the smoking control group (OD value) (mRNA: 0.9354 +/- 0.3290 for big artery and 0.5012 +/- 0.1170 for small artery; protein: 1.1112 +/- 0.3310 for big artery and 0.4736 +/- 0.1250 for small artery) were less than those in the normal control group. The protein expression of Kv1.5 in the smoking + exercise group (0.7445 +/- 0.2690) in small artery was higher than that in the smoking control group.

CONCLUSIONProper exercise stress can decrease inhibition effect of the chronic smoking on the expression of potassium channel BKca and Kv1.5, which perhaps partly results from exercise induced increase of cortisol secretion.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Kv1.5 Potassium Channel ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel alpha Subunits ; Male ; Movement ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoking ; adverse effects