AIM: To observe the neovascularization process with no intervention in rat allogenic penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: Allogenic penetrating keratoplasties were successfully performed in 34 female SPF SD rats with no intervention after operations. Corneal neovascularization(CNV) process was noted on day 4, 7, 15 and 30 with operating microscope. The vascular area surface was calculated using the formula C/12×3.14×[r2-(r-I)2].RESULTS: CNV was noted in 29 out of 34 rats (85%). Firstly, the new vessels distributed around the cornea like a brush then gradually extended towards the center. The vessels were distorted and massive with branched tails, they continued growing to reticulated veins in peak time then gradually atrophied. The average neovascularization area (SE) on day 4, 7, 15 and 30 was 11.8±3.5mm2, 18.5±4.0mm2,14.4±4.3mm2 and 6.0±1.8mm2 respectively and 12.7±1.9mm2 in total. The average percentage that new vessels accounting the whole cornea area(SE) was 30.8%±8.7%, 65.3%±12.8%, 59.4%±14.5%,36.2%±10.9% and 48.7%±6.4% in total.CONCLUSION: In rat allogenic penetrating keratoplasties without intervention, CNV presented on day 4 and reached the maximum area on day 7. Then the vessels gradually atrophied, about 50% of the maximum area still remained on day 30.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker on the quality of life (QOL) including appetite, defecation, and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

METHODSTotally 147 patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor were assigned to 4 groups according to different treatment methods, i.e., the supportive treatment group (A, 20 cases), the acupressure treatment group (B, 41 cases), the magnetic sticker treatment group (C, 40 cases), and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker treatment group (D, 46 cases). They were respectively treated with different methods, supportive treatment for group A, acupressure for group B, magnetic sticker for group C, and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker for group D. The scores of food intake, defecation frequency, sleep time, Karnofsky, and QOL were compared before treatment and at day 14 after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of food intake, defecation frequency, and sleep time were obviously improved in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between group D and group A (P < 0.01). In addition, in comparison with A group, both Karnofsky score and QOL score increased in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe assisted therapy of the combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker could ameliorate QOL such as the digestive functions and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

Acupressure ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of prepared rhubarb, in order to explore the bidirectional effects in hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity of prepared rhubarb and the objective authenticity for attenuating toxicity by processing.

METHODNormal and pathological animals were adopted simultaneous to investigate the effect of total extracts from prepared rhubarb within a high dose range (2.0, 5.4, 14.7, 40.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) on normal state, biochemical index and histopathology of experimental animals. The factor analytic approach was used to analyze the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of prepared rhubarb.

RESULTThe factor analytic approach was used to extract two common factors from the nine biochemical indexes. The firs common factor was mainly dominated by HA, LN and TGF-β1, and could be explained as fibrotic factors. The second common factor was mainly dominated by ALT, AST and ALP, and could be explained as cellular factor. The results of the factor analysis suggested that prepared rhubarb showed significant bidirectional effects in hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity, which could protect liver in CC14 injured chronic hepatic injury, but had a certain hepatotoxic effect to normal animals. The pathological examination showed consistent results with the factor analysis. Under comparable dosages, prepared rhubarb showed a stronger liver protecting effect than crude rhubarb, with a lower toxicity.

CONCLUSIONAlthough prepared rhubarb has a certain hepatotoxic effect to normal animals, it has also a significant therapeutic effect to animals with liver injury. The results proved the symptom-based prescription theory and the scientificity of the symptom-based medication. The symptom-based prescription theory is important to correctly realize the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of traditional Chinese medicines and guide the symptom-based medication.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests

Objective To investigate the effect of chymase on the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and the role of transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?_1).Methods Cultured CFs of neonatal SD rats were isolated by trypsinization.Cell number and DNA synthesis were evaluated by MTT assay (A_(490) value) and [~3H]-deoxythy- midine [~3H]-TdR incorporation.The mRNA expression of TGF-?_1 in CFs was determined by RT-PCR.Results Chymase increased CFs numbers and [~3H]-TdR incorporation in a dose-dependent manner.The A_(490) value of CFs stimulated by 15,30 and 60 ng/mL chymase was 0.263?0.033,0.348?0.031 and 0.387?0.026,respectively, which were all significantly higher than that of control (0.201?0.019,P

Objective to analyze the relation between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and neonatal blood glucose.Methods HbA1c values of 743 pregnant women with GDM are detected,and according to HbA1c level,they were divided into 3 groups,such as G1 (HbA1c＜5.5％),G2 (5.5％≤HbA1c≤6.5％) and G3 (HbA1c＞6.5％).Newborn babies' blood glucose values of the women in each group are monitored respectively in the 1st hour and at the 4th and 8th hour.Neonatal hypoglycemia and incidence of threshold blood glucose in the three groups are compared by SPSS 17.0 software.Results (1) The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in G1 and G2 are both higher than thatin G3 in the 1st hour (P＜0.05).The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in G3 is higher than that in G1 and G2 at the 4th and 8th hour (P＜0.05).(2) With time extending,the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia declines in G1 and G2 (P＜0.05),but there is no obvious decline in G3 (P＞0.05).(3)The incidence of threshold blood glucose in G3 and G2 are higher than that in G1 in the 1st hour,and at the 4th,8th hour(P＜0.05),and there is no obvious statistical difference between G2 and G3 (P＞0.05).(4)With time extending,the incidence of threshold blood glucose declines in G1 (P＜0.05),but it doesn't decline in G3 evidently(P＞0.05).And there was no obvious decline in G2 in the 4 hours after babies were born(P＞0.05).(5)A mother's HbA1c level has a negative correlation with her baby's blood glucose in 1 hour after birth(r=-0.401,P＜0.05).Conclusion The higher HbA1c level of pregnant women with GDM increases,the higher risks of their neonatal hypoglycemia and threshold blood glucose are.

Myocardial ischemia/hypoxia often results in damaging the structure and function of heart. Baicalein, a widely distributed flavonoid, has been shown to play an important role in the cardioprotection of ischemia/hypoxia in recent years. The cardioprotection of baicalein was mediated by regulating the cell signaling pathways and controlling the phosphorylation of key signaling molecules. These signaling pathways involved in phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and their down signaling proteins HMGB1, MMP-2/-9, and eNOS, and apoptosis proteins as well. The interaction mechanism of baicalein on signaling pathway in myocardial ischemia/hypoxia has been reviewed.

Objective To investigate the effect of Yiqi Huoxue Huatan Decoction(YHHD) on gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) in the colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis rats. Methods Sixty rats were divided into six groups, namely normal control group, model control group, low-, middle- and high-dose Y HHD group(gastric gavage of YHHD in the dosage of 13, 26, 52 g·kg-1·d-1 respectively) , and Mesalazine(0.5 g·kg-1·d-1 ) group. T he rat model of ulcerative colitis was established by enema with 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)mixture(2.5%TNBS and 50% ethanol). The changes in rat body weight were monitored. After treatment, pathological features of the colonic mucosa were observed under light microscope, and VEGF and ICAM-1 gene expression levels in the colonic mucosa were measured by reverse t ranscripti on polymerase chai n reaction(RT-PCR). Results Body weight was lighter, and relative gene expression levels of VEGF and ICAM-1 in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group, and pathological features of the colonic mucosa was obvious, the differences being significant between the two groups(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, body weight was increased , pathological features of the colonic mucosa were relieved, and relative gene expression levels of VEGF and ICAM-1 were significantly decreased in YHHD groups(P<0.01), and high-dose YHHD showed the strongest effect. Conclusion YHHD can down-regulate the gene expression of VEGF and ICAM-1, which may be one of its therapeutic mechanisms for ulcerative colitis.

Objective To investigate the effect of microRNA-101 (miRNA-101) on atrial fibrosis in human chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods Right atrial appendages were obtained from 59 patients (30 with AF) undergoing cardiac surgery, including 47 patients with valve heart disease and 12 patients with congenital heart disease. The expression of miRNA-101 was determined by quantitative real-time PCR in the right atrial appendages of patients with and without AF. The cell-specific localization of miRNA-101 was detected by in situ hybridization assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor β typeⅠreceptor (TGFβRⅠ) and collagen type I (COL1) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and Western-blot assay, respectively. Collagen in the right atrial appendages was observed by Masson staining assay. Results The expression of miRNA-101 was found to be significantly down-regulated in AF patients compared with patients with sinus rhythm (SR) (P < 0.05). The result of miRNA-ISH showed that miRNA-101, which was highly distributed within the connective tissues of heart, was down-regulated at about 24.9% in patients with AF compared with patients with SR. No significant differences at the mRNA expression level of TGFβRI was found between patients with AF and patients with SR (P > 0.05). But the protein expression of TGFβRI in patients with AF was significantly higher than that of patients with SR (P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expressionsl of COL1 were significantly higher in patients with AF than thoset of patients with SR (P < 0.05). The collagen was significantly increased in patients with AF than that of patients with SR (P < 0.05). Conclusions Downregulation of miRNA-101 may contribute to atrial fibrosis in human atrial fibrillation by targeting TGFβRⅠ.

Objective To explore the effect of the simvastatin administration on the expression of connective tissue growth factor （CTGF） in fihrotic lungs of rats. Methods The cats were treated with single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin （BLM） or instillation of the same volume of normal saline （NS） as a control. The administration of simvastatin（20 mg/kg）began once a day immediately or 7 days later after intratracheal BLM instillation respectively with the same volume of NS was given as a vehicle control. The rats were killed on day 7,14 and 28 respectively. Pathological alteration of lung tissue was observed hy HE staining and Masson staining. Hydroxyproline（HYP）content in lung tissue was used to determine the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. The expression of CTGF in lung tissue was exanfined by immunohistochem- istry staining and photodeusitometry. Results Histopathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis emerged gradually after the instillation of BLM. The expression level of CTGF was increased in lungs of rats after intratracheal instillation of BLM, compared with the control. The administration of simvastatin immediately or 7 days after intratracheal instillation of BLM, attenuated the histopathological changes of bleomycin- induced puhnonary fibrosis and prevented the increased expression of CTGF in lung tissue on day 28. Conclusion The adntinistration of simvastatin, immediately or 7 days after intratracheal BLM instillation, prevented the up-regulation of CTGF in fibrotic lungs of rats, which ntight be one of the mechanisms of the anti-fihrosis of simvastatin in lungs.

Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; classification ; pathology ; virology