ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) play important roles in various tissues under physiological and pathophysiological conditions by coupling cell metabolic status to electrical activity. The KATP channe l is a tetrameric complex of inwardly rectified potassium (Kir) and ATP binding protein (ABP). The Kir subunits form the channel pore, whereas ABP is required for activation and regulation. Both Kir and ABP are divided into different subu nits and the various Kir and ABP subunits “mix and match” to form KATP c hannels with different pharmacological and nucleotide sensitivities. This revie w focuses on the molecular structure, physiological roles, pathophysiological an d pharmacological properties of KATP channels in different tissues.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Anorexia ; therapy ; Child ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Pruritus ; therapy

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) play important roles in various tissues tinder physiological and pathophysiological condi- conditions by coupling cell metabolic status to electrical activity. The KATP channel is a tetrameric complex of inwardly rectified potassium (Kir) and ATP binding protein (ABP). The Kir subunits form the channel pore, whereas ABP is required for activation and regulation. Both Kir and ABP are divided into different subunits and the various Kir and ABP subunits "mix and match" to form KATP channels with different pharmacological and nucleotide sensitivities. This review focuses on the molecular structure, physiological roles, pathophysiological and pharmacological proper ties of KATP channels in different tissues.

Internationality ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Acute Kidney Injury ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gentamicins ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Rats

Objective To evaluate the effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) extensively-coated prosthesis on elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.Methods From February 1997 to May 1999,96 patients Were treated with hydroxyapatite (HA) coated prosthesis and followed up for their hip arthroplasty.Their results were studied clinically and roentgengraphically to evaluate chiefly their Harris scores,complications and thigh pain.The survival of prosthesis was evaluated according to Kaplan-Meier methods.Results The 60 cases were followed up for eight years on average(range,sevon to nine years).Their mean Harris scores were improved from 42 preoperatively to 90 postoperatively.Fifty-eihgt cases felt no pain at their hip,but two did at their thigh.No radiolucent lines were observed.All the prostheses achieved bony stabilization and remolding.Conclusions HA coated prosthesis can achieve fine fixation,because it helps bone conduction,resists axial force and torsion,and reduces operative risks.

Objective To explore the different influence of antiepileptic drugs(AEDs)at therapeutic levels to the maturation of brain.Methods 180 healthy Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into infant and adult group.Each age group was administered with PB,CNP,VPA,TPM or normal saline respectively in persistent 5 weeks.The steady-state plasma concentrations of AEDs at the experimental dosage were coincided with the range of clinical therapeutic concentrations.After AEDs withdrawed,the effects of AEDs on cognitive function were assessed by Morris water maze and two-way shuttle box at different time points.Body and brain weight were got immediately when the rats were sacrificed.Histological changes of brain were observed by HE staining,Nissl staining and transmission electron microscopy.Results(1) For immature rats,1 day or 14 days after AEDs withdrawed,there were significant differences between groups exposed to PB or CNP and control group in escape response latency(ERL)in the two-way shuttle box.Even after one month ERLs of immature rats receiving CNP((6.05?2.04)s)or PB((5.81? 1.75)s)were still longer than that of untreated controls((4.75?2.43)s,P

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

To evaluate the automated segmentation algorithm for detection of intra - retinal layers to process images obtained from ultra- high resolution optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Graph theory and the shortest path search based on dynamic programming were applied to automatically segment the 8 intra - retinal layers. We experimentally verified the accuracy and reliability of the algorithm. The results showed that the intra-retinal layer boundaries between automated and manual segmentations matched well. The algorithm successfully segmented the intra- retinal layers in glaucoma, high myopia, and retinitis pigmentosa patients. The proposed automatic segmentation for intra-retinal layers provides a promising tool for quantitative analysis in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Background Research showed that transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) promotes scar formation.But its mechanism in scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery is worthy of studying.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of TGF-β2 on myofibroblast transition of human Tenon fibroblasts (HTFs) and scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery.Methods Tenon capsular tissue was obtained from 3 patients with strabismus during the surgery and was incubated in DMEM with 10％ fetal bovine serum (FBS).The cells were collected and passaged in the free-serum medium for 24 hours,and then 1,2,5,10,20 μg/L TGF-β2 was added into the medium respectively,to induce the transformation of HTFs,and 2 μg/L or 5 μg/L TGF-β2 was used to treat the HTFs for 6,24,48 and 72 hours.The control group was not treated with TGF-β2.The expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and phosphorylation of the signaling proteins (pSmad2) in HTFs were detected by Western blot assay.The expressions of α-SMA and F-actin were located by cell immunofluorescine technique under the confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.Cell contractility was determined by collagen gel contraction assays.This study was approved by Ethic Committee of Institute of Surgery Research of Daping Hospital,and informed consent was obtained from each patient or custodian initial of the study.Results The expression of α-SMA protein in the HTFs was increased significantly after the treatment of TGF-β2 in comparison with the control group and reached a peak at 24-48 hours.The α-SMA expression was gradually weakened in the 10 μg/L TGF-β2 groups.Little of α-SMA and F-actin were expressed in the control group.However,strong staining for α-SMA and F-actin were observed in the 1,2 and 5 μg/L TGF-β2 groups and then the staining weakened at the concentration of 10 μg/L.In addition,pSmad2 showed a stronger expression in the 2 μg/L TGF-β2 group than that in the PBS group and FBS group,with the strongest expression in 30 minutes through 2 hours.The untreated gel contracted (78.00±3.13)％ from its initial size,and contraction in the 1,2,5,10 μg/L TGF-β2 group were (63.88±1.78)％,(20.69±0.65)％,(19.49-±0.54)％,(16.24±0.84) ％,respectively,TGF-β2 increased HTFs contraction significantly (Fgroup =859.400,P =0.000).Conclusions TGF-β2 can induce transdifferentiation of Tenon fibroblast into myofibroblast and increase cell contractility,with a concentration-dependent and time-dependent pattern to an extent.It may be the mechanism of scar formation after glaucoma filter surgery.