Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retroperitoneal Space ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the plasma homocysteine (HCY) level and the polymorphism of N(5), N(10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C667T in liver cirrhosis.

METHODS112 normal subjects and 87 liver cirrhosis patients were recruited in the study. Their plasma HCY levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and polymorphisms of their MTHFR gene were analyzed using PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThe mean level of plasma HCY was significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis (21.71+/-4.86) micromol/L than that in healthy individuals (8.34+/-3.59) micromol/L. There were three kinds of MTHFR genotypes: +/+ (TT, homozygous mutation), +/- (CT, heterozygous mutation) and -/- (CC, wild type). The frequencies of the three genotypes were as follows: +/+, 29.9%; +/-, 52.9%; -/-, 17.2% in cirrhosis patients and +/+, 19.6%; +/-, 33.9%; -/-, 46.4% in normal subjects. The frequency of homozygous or heterozygous mutation was significantly higher in cirrhosis patients than that in the normal control. Moreover, plasma homocysteine level was markedly higher in patients with MTHFR genetic mutation than those without mutation.

CONCLUSIONSHyperhomocysteinemia may be an independent risk factor for liver cirrhosis. MTHFR is the main enzyme related to homocysteine metabolism. The genetic mutation of MTHFR C667T is possibly an important mechanism of hyperhomocysteinemia in liver cirrhosis. The level of plasma homocysteine may be an early indicator for liver cirrhosis.

Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; complications ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; genetics ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NAD+) ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic diversity of C. morifolium on the chemical constituents.

METHODChemical constituents of four cultivars cultivated with the same conditions were compared in three types of index: chlorogenic acid, flavonoid and volatile oil.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONWith different cultivars and processing methods, the contents of chlorogenic acid, flavonoid and volatile oil extracted from C. morifolium vary great extent.

Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Flowers ; chemistry ; genetics ; Hot Temperature ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Quality Control ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical feature of patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) and the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ASD in elderly patients.

METHODSBetween May 2000 and June 2010, 82 patients aged (64.5 ± 3.8) years underwent attempted transcatheter ASD closure. Right heart catheterization was performed before intervention. Echocardiography was made at 1 day, 1, 3, 6 months after the procedure. The pre- and post-closure clinical feature, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and cardiac function were evaluated.

RESULTSIn 82 patients, 37 (45.1%) patients were associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The systolic PAP and mean PAP [(44.1 ± 12.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and (25.2 ± 6.8) mm Hg, respectively] were measured by right heart catheterization before the procedure. One patient was unsuitable for closure because of severe PAH. The remaining 81 patients underwent successful ASD closure without major complications. After closuring, systolic PAP decreased from (52.7 ± 10.3) mm Hg to (31.8 ± 6.3) mm Hg (P < 0.05), and mean PAP descended from (30.9 ± 4.7) mm Hg to (21.8 ± 3.4) mm Hg (P < 0.05) in the 36 patients with PAH. The cardiac function improved post procedure. There were 6 new-onset atrial fibrillations during follow up.

CONCLUSIONSASD in elderly patients are commonly associated with PAH. Transcatheter ASD closure is safe and effective in the majority of elderly patients.

Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEA comparative proteomic approach was used to identify and analyze proteins relevant to metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSProteins extracted from 12 liver tumor tissue specimens (6 with metastases and 6 without) were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Comparative analyses of 2-DE protein patterns between the two groups were done using computerized image analysis. Selected proteins exhibiting statistically significant alternations were identified by mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed to examine the expressions of the candidate proteins.

RESULTS16 proteins including HSP27, S100A11, CK18 were identified using mass spectrometry, which were related to cell mobility, signal transduction, and energy metabolism respectively. Of these, HSP27 was found to be uniquely over-expressed in 2-DE maps of all metastatic HCCs when compared to the non-metastatic HCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting of HCC tissues confirmed this difference while RT-PCR did not.

CONCLUSIONThere are different proteins working together that affect the metastasis of HCCs. The overexpression of HSP27 may serve as a biomarker for early detection and therapeutic targets to the metastatic phenotype of HCC. The role of HSP27 in HCC metastasis warrants further investigation.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemistry ; pathology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Mass Spectrometry ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proteome ; analysis ; S100 Proteins ; analysis

Aim To investigate the peptides and its protection for vascular endothelial cells, derived from the absorbed components of rice α-globulin,which was shown to be effective in anti-atherosclerosis. Methods The amino acid sequence was purified by gel chro-matography and RP-HPLC, and determined by ESI/MS. Then the peptide was chemically synthesized. Hu-man umbilical vein endothelial cell injury model was induced by tumor necrosis factor-α. The cell viability was measured by cell counting kit to screen the appro-priate peptide intervention concentration. The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry. Bcl-2, Bax, p-p38, vascular cell adhesion molecule and the protein expression level of NF-κB signaling pathway were de-tected by Western blot and immunofluorescent stai-ning. Results Apoptosis of HUVECs induced by TNF-α was significantly increased by YGEGSSEEG, which also regulated expression of Bcl-2/Bax proteins and inhibited phosphorylation of p38 protein. Besides, the peptide suppressed the production of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and activation of NF-κB pathway. While it did not significantly improve the oxidative stress response in HUVECs. Conclusion Peptide YGEGSSEEG pro-tects vascular endothelial cells through suppressing ap-optosis and expression of adhesion molecules.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula on cell apoptosis in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); To preliminarily explore its mechanism of action. Methods Totally sixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly devided into normal group, positive control group, Yiqi Huoxue XiaozhengFormula low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the rats in normal group, rats in other groups were treated with castrate and testosterone propionate injection to replicate BPH model. The normal group and the model group were given normal saline for gavage; Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were given Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula 10, 20, 40 mg/100 g for gavage, respectively; rats in positive control group were given Longkai Granule suspension 11 mg/100 g for gavage, once a day, for 30 d. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The prostate tissue was taken. The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in the prostate tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the normol group, the expression of Bax in the prostate tissue of the model group decreased significantly, while the expression of Bcl-2 increased significantly; Compared with the model group, the expression of Bax in the prostate tissue of rats in administration groups increased significantly, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced, and Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula high-dose group was superior to other groups. Conclusion Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula can improve benign prostatic hyperplasia by promoting the apoptosis of rat prostate tissue, and its mechanism is related to the increase of the expression of Bax protein and the decrease of Bcl-2 protein expression in prostate tissue.

Aim To study the potential molecular anti-inflammatory mechanism of Aconitum tanguticum based on network pharmacology methods,molecular docking technology and cell experiment. Methods The active ingredients targets and disease targets of Aconitum tanguticum were collected through literature and database. The common targets were utilized by mixture of them and the core targets were obtained by constructing the protein protein interaction(PPI)network. Then the component-target-disease network diagram was constructed. The gene ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)analysis were performed for common targets. AutoDock Vina(1.1.2)software was utilized for combining some of the core targets and the diterpenoid alkaloids in the chemical components of Aconitum tanguticum. Finally,the influence of alcoholic extract of Aconitum tanguticum(ATS)on RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was preliminarily verified by MTT assay,Griess reagent and realtime RT-PCR. Results A total 17 main active ingredients were obtained from literature and 284 common targets were obtained via intersecting with disease targets. Altogether 108 pathways were screened by KEGG enrichment,mainly including PI3K-Akt,Ras,MAPK and HIF-1. Molecular docking results indicated that the active ingredients of Aconitum tanguticum had a high affinity with the core target to be docked. In vitro experiment suggested that ATS treatment inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS mRNA in RAW264.7 cells. Realtime RT-PCR detection suggested that ATS played an anti-inflammatory effect by regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusions Aconitum tanguticum exerts anti-inflammatory effects through PI3K-Akt pathways,which provides the scientific basis for better promoting the development of Aconitum tanguticum.

The problems existing in the management of medical equipment in the General hospital of the Ethiopian Defense Forces were introduced,and some suggestions were put forward from domestic aid units,equipment suppliers,aid medical teams and assisted hospitals.The management efficiency of aid-Ethiopia medical equipment and the medical service capacity of the assisted hospitals were enhanced greatly.References were provided for the medical equipment management during foreign aid missions.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2023,44(11):95-99]

The study was aimed to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against homo sapiens UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2 (UGP2). Normal human liver tissues homogenized, and cytosolic proteins isolated by centrifugation were used to immunize BALB/c mice to generate mAbs by hybridoma technique. The mAbs were identified by ELISA, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry assay. The antibody specificity was confirmed by Uni-ZAP expression library screening. The results indicated that one hybridoma BAD062 secreting specific mAb against UGP2 was established. The Ig subclass of this mAb was IgG(2b) (kappa), and it could be used in ELISA, Western blot, immunohistochemistry assay. The antigen recognized by BAD062 mAb was localized in the hepatocyte cytoplasm, with molecular weight of 56 kD in the cytosolic proteins of human liver tissue. The BAD062 mAb was further confirmed by immunoscreening of Uni-ZAP XR liver cDNA expression library. It is concluded that a hybridoma cell line stably secretes specific mAb against UGP2. This mAb reacted with UGP2 in ELISA, Western blot, immunohistochemistry assay, and would be very useful for the UGP2 studies.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Antibody Specificity ; Base Sequence ; Humans ; Hybridomas ; secretion ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; UTP-Glucose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase ; immunology