Objective To explore the factors relating to serum lutein level in elderly patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods 102 early AMD patients diagnosed by international diagnostic criteria were selected.The level of serum lutein was measured by HPLC,and dietary intake was estimated by food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ).The factors relating to serum lutein level were analyzed by Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis models.Results Serum lutein level was higher in female AMD patients than in male AMD patients [(0.33±0.31) μmol/L vs.(0.21 ±0.19) μmol/L,t=2.21,P＜0.05].Serum lutein level was positively correlated with dietary lutein (r=0.49,P＜ 0.001),but not correlated with age,BMI,and other nutrient intake after adjustment for caloric intake.Dietary lutein was mainly from corn,spinach,leeks,eggs,chrysanthemum,pumpkin,broccoli,lettuce,asparagus and peas.Intakes of spinach,pumpkin,asparagus were significantly associated with serum lutein level.Conclusions Elderly patients with AMD should increase the intakes of lutein-rich vegetables to increase the serum lutein level.

Objective:To explore the effect of lipoic acid (LA) on chronic oxidative stress,cytokines and inflammatory gene expression with mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) and whether LA supplementation could prevent development of chronic inflammation.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups.The control group were administrated with an ordinary diet.The two experimental groups were fed with a high fat diet or high fat plus 0.1% LA.Antioxidants defense index such as SOD,CAT,GSH-Px and MDA were examined after 10 week.Cytokines such as IFN-?,IL-4,IL-6,TNF-? and IL-10 were examined after 10 week,respectively.Gene expression related to oxidative stress and inflammation were confirmed by QRT-PCR.Results:HFD led to potently weaken antioxidant defenses in mice.HFD significantly increased levels of IFN-?,IL-6 and TNF-?,and decreased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in mice plasma.QRT-PCR results showed an up-regulation of inflammation related genes and a down-regulation antioxidant-related genes.Conclusion:LA is a possibly effective supplementation with HFD,both to prevent from the development of long-term oxidative stress and to attenuate chronic inflammation.

Immobilization conditions of Candida tropicalis to be absorbed in polyurethane foam carrier materials were studied on the xylitol production from corn hemicellulosic hydrolysate. Optimum batch-fermentation conditions were as follows: inoculum amount, 7% (volume ratio); polyurethane foam quantity, 1.0 g/100 mL; 30?C; initial pH, 6.0. Shaking speed was divided into two-phase to accommodate the dissolved oxygen, with 200 r/min at 0~24 h and 150 r/min at 24 h~46 h. The immobilized cells on polyurethane foam carrier have high density and good resistance to inhibitors in the hydrolysates. Average xylitol yield and volumetric productivity of polyurethane foam immobilized fermentation were much higher than the fermentation without immobilization. Corn cob hydrolysates can be directly biotransformed to xylitol without decoloration or ion-exchange treatment. This process can effectively reduce production costs, and it shows broad prospects of applications. Average xylitol yield was 67.6% and xylitol volumetric productivity was 1.92 g/(L?h).

Objective To investigate the protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)against brain dam- age from hypoxic ischemia(HIBD)in neonatal rats.Methods One hundred and seventeen 7-day-old Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:a control group(n=32),a hypoxic ischemia brain damage group (HIBD group,n=30),a hyperbaric air group(HBA group,n=27),and a hyperbaric oxygen group(HBO group, n=28).The HIBD model was established by permanent occlusion of the left common carotid artery followed by expo- sure to a mixture of 8% oxygen/92% nitrogen for 2 h(at 37℃).HBO therapy was administered to the HBO group after the hypoxia exposure once a day for 7 d,as was HBA therapy to the HBA group.Apoptotic cells in the cortex and hippocampus(A_(CH)cells)were measured using TUNEL at 9 d after birth,and the ratios of left and right cerebral hemisphere weight(R_(L/R))and rate of weight gain(GRW)were recorded 14 d after birth.A radial arm maze acquisi- tion test(RAMAT)was administered at 30 to 35 days.Lastly,the neuron density in the CA_1 subfield of the rats' hip- pocampi(ND_(CAI)was measured with Nissl staining.Results R_(L/R)and GRW in the HIBD group were significantly lower than in the control group(P＜0.01),while R_(L/R)was increased in the HBO and HBA groups,especially in the HBO group(P＜0.01),although there was no significant difference in GRW between the groups.Compared with the control group,A_(CH)cells were increased and ND_(CAI)was decreased in the HIBD group(P＜0.01),while A_(CH)cells were decreased and ND_(CAI)was elevated in the HBO group in comparison with the HIBD group(P＜0.01).There was no change in A_(CH)cells or ND_(CAI)in the HBA group.The RAMAT results for the HIBD group,including the time to find the arms baited with water,average times of working errors and reference memory errors,were significantly high- er than those of the control group,while these values for the HBO group were obviously lower than for the HIBD group,and there was no change for the HBA group(P＞0.05).Conclusion HBO therapy might increase the re- covery of learning and memory function by attenuating HIBD in neonatal rats.

How to identify active constituents of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and study their interactions are key problems in the development of TCMs. The inhibitory effect of six alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) on Shigella dysenteriae (S. dysenteria) growth had been investigated by microcalorimetry in this study. Main active constituents of RC were confirmed by comparing their contributions to the bacteriostatic effect, and the interactions among active constituents were further researched. According to the result, in 0.8 mg-mL-1 extract of RC, the contributions of six active alkaloids including berberine, coptisine, epiberberine, palmatine and the combination of jatrorrhizine and columbamine were 52.83%, 36.31%, 2.49%, 4.27% and 3.21%, respectively. Therefore, berberine and coptisine were the main active constituents of RC that inhibited the growth of S. dysenteria. The study of interactions among the six alkaloids indicated that, 1 there were some contstituents antagonizing the inhibitory effect of RC, 2 there was a synergy effect between berberine and coptisine, 3 there were additive effects between other four alkaloids and the main active constituents. These results may provide some useful references for the establishment of the quality standard for RC and the development of multi-component TCMs.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Synergism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Shigella dysenteriae ; drug effects ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the prevalence of hypertension among adult residents in Mongolian region of Hulunbeier. Methods A total of 1536 adult residents were selected by using cluster sampling method, and 1496 completed the questionnaire survey. Blood pressure was measured for each participant. Results The prevalence of hypertension was 31.1%. Higher prevalence of hypertension was found in male ( 42. 0% vs 24. 5%, P ＜ 0. 05 ) and the elderly. No statistically significant difference of prevalence of hypertension was investigated in different nationalities (P ＞ O. 05 ). Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension among adult residents in Mongolian region of Hulunbeier is relatively higher.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of early high-loading-dose tirofiban on platelet activity for patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

METHODSA total of 120 acute STEMI patients were treated with 300 mg aspirin and 600 mg loading dose clopidogrel and randomized to high-dose tirofiban (25 µg/kg bolus followed by 0.15 µg×kg(-1)×min(-1) infusion for 36 hours, n = 40), standard-dose tirofiban (10 µg/kg bolus followed by 0.15 µg×kg(-1)×min(-1) infusion for 36 hours, n = 40) or control (no tirofiban, n = 40) before angiography. Inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) was assessed before angiography, at 10 min and 24 hours after tirofiban infusion, and at 12 and 24 hours after stopping tirofiban infusion by the thrombelastography assay.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in baseline of IPA between the 3 groups (P > 0.05). IPA was significantly higher in high-dose tirofiban group compared with standard-dose tirofiban and no tirofiban group at 10 minutes after tirofiban infusion [(84.2 ± 12.0)% vs. (67.8 ± 26.8)% and (31.5 ± 21.9)%, all P < 0.01]. At 24 hours after tirofiban infusion, the IPA of high-dose and standard-dose tirofiban was similar [(93.0 ± 9.8)% vs. (88.5 ± 18.1)%, P > 0.05] and was significantly higher than no tirofiban group [(40.4 ± 22.8)%, all P < 0.01]. IPA was similar at 12 and 24 hours after stopping tirofiban use among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). The maximum amplitude of high-dose tirofiban and standard-dose tirofiban groups at different time points was similar (all P > 0.05), and maximum amplitude in both tirofiban groups was significantly lower than in no tirofiban group at 10 min [(47.2 ± 7.6) mm and (50.0 ± 9.8) mm vs. (57.7 ± 6.5) mm, all P < 0.01] and at 24 hours after stopping tirofiban infusion [(54.6 ± 5.6) mm and (54.3 ± 9.0) mm vs. (59.6 ± 4.0) mm, all P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONEarly use of high-loading-dose of tirofiban on top of 600 mg loading dose clopidogrel is more efficient on inhibiting platelet activity than standard dose of tirofiban in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aged ; Blood Platelets ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral Sarpogrelate hydrochloride in the treatment of chronic arterial ischemia of the lower extremities.Methods In this study 892 patients,who suffered from arteriosclerosis (ASO) or thromboangiitis obliterans ( TAO ) or diabetic foot ( DF ),with symptoms of intermittent claudication, sensation of cold, pain, ulcer, and without a history of vasotransplantation or bypass grafting or interventional therapy, were treated by taking Sarpogrelate hydrochloride tablets 100 mg tid for consecutive 8 weeks.The improvement rate of concomitant symptoms and the total effective rate of ASO, TAO, DF were evaluated.Drug adverse reaction were recorded.Results The improvement rate of intermittent claudication,sensation of cold,pain and ulcer were 96.9％,97.1％,89.0％ and 86.9％ respectively.The total effective rate for ASO,TAO,DF was 83.5％.A total of 81 cases (9.1％) reported mild side effects,including 7 patients with mild rash after 2- 5 days' medication,21 patients with mild nausea and 53 patients with stomach discomfort after 1 - 2 days' medication.Symptoms were managed conservatively without discontinuing taking sarpogrelate hydrochloride.Conclusions Sarpogrelate hydrochloride oral is a safe and effective therapy for chronic arterial ischemia diseases of the lower extremities.

Objective To discuss the diagnostic methods and therapeutical measures on acute portal vein thrombosis. Method Clinical data of 13 cases of acute portal vein thrombosis were retrospectively analyzed and its diagnosis and therapy were evaluated.Results In this group,8 cases were male and 5 were female.The average age was(54±26)years old and 6 of which had identified inducement.Diagnosis was made with enhanced CT or MRI/MRA in all cases,Among which 5 cases were treated with non-surgical method(anticoagulation and thrombolysis)and 2 died.The other 8 cases were cured with surgical procedures (thrombectomy and tube insertion for anticoagulation and thrombolysis though superior mesenteric vein).Segmental small intestinal necrosis necessitated small bowel resection in 5 cases.Conclusion Surgical procedures remain the important therapy of choice for acute portal vein thrombosis especially when bowel necrosis is suspected.