Objective To investigate the influence of ursolic acid on vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) , cycloxygen-ase-2 (COX-2), and matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) expressed in the mouse retinal ischemic model , and to explore the mecha-nisms of anti-angiogenesis.Methods Sixty 7-day clean-class C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 6 groups [ n =10 mice (20 eyes) per group]:blank control, model control (PBS), positive control (triamcinolone), and ursolic acid (UA) intervention (low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose).Mice in the blank control group were raised in air , and mice in other groups in(75%±2%)O2 high-oxygen environment for 5 consecutive days .Mice in the model control group and breastfeeding mice were put back in air environ-ment (21%O2 ) on the 12th day after the new-born mice to induce the generation of retinal neovascularization .When models were suc-cessful, the drug treatments were applied immediately to the corresponding groups , with injection of 3μl of sterile PBS in model control group, 3 μl of 1.5, 3.00 and 6.0 μg UA in UA intervention group, and 3 μl of triamcinolone (1 ml∶40 mg) in positive control group, respectively.All mice were killed after overdose anesthesia on the 17th day.Their eyeballs were made into samples and retinal tissue pathological sections with H-E dying method.The positive expressions of VEGF , COX-2, and MMP-2 were detected with immu-nohistochemical method .The fresh retinal tissue homogenate was prepared to detect the protein expressions of VEGF , COX-2, and MMP-2 in retinal tissue with western blot method ,and mRNA expressions of VEGF , COX-2, and MMP-2 were detected with real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) .Results According to protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF , COX-2,and MMP-2 in retinal tissue among six groups , protein expressions of VEGF , COX-2, and MMP-2 in model group were significantly higher than those in blank group ( P <0.05 ) .Each protein expression in the high UA intervention group was significantly lower than that in the model group ( P <0.05 ) .Each protein expression in the high UA intervention group was not significantly different from that in the positive group ( P >0.05 ) .Each protein expression in the high UA intervention group was significantly lower than that in the low UA intervention group( P <0.05).Conclusions UA inhibited expressions of VEGF, COX-2, and MMP-2 in retinal ischemia model .UA also played an inhibitory role in the formation of neovascularization , and this role was positively correlated with UA dose .

Objective To discuss the clinical features and treatment of ureteral obstruction resulted from vena genitalis compression.Methods 2 cases of hydronephrosis resulted from vena genitalis compression were discussed retrospectively,and relevant literatures were reviewed.Both of the 2 patients presenting with mild loin pain,and imaging studies showed hydronephrosis.One patients presenting with left hydronephrosis,and the other showed bilateral hydronephrosis.Imaging study showed ureter obstruction at L3-L4 level.Laparoscopic surgery found vena genitalis crossing and compressing the upper part of the ureter,resulted the upper ureter and pelvis dilation.Laparoscopic excision of vena genitalis were performed on these two cases.Results These patients'symptoms were relieved and hydronephrosis alleviated evidently 3 month after surgery in follow-up.Conclusions Hydronephrosis resulted from vena genitalis compression is a rare clinical manifestation.Classical imaging presents with ureter obstruction at L3-L5 level,at which the vena genitalis crossing the musculi psoas major.Ureter migrates outwards and the upper ureter and pelvis dilate.Pre-operative diagnosis is difficulty,but laparoscopic resection of the vena genitalis to relieve the obstruction of the ureter is recommended.

Adult ; Calcinosis ; Heart Aneurysm ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Thrombosis ; pathology

Bronchi ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; complications ; Male ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; congenital

Objective To construct and express recombinant cecropin B-binding site of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone(CB-LHRH')gene,and to evaluate the anticancer function of CB-LHRH' on human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and human endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1B.Methods The sequence of the cDNA encoding CB-LHRH' was designed,artificially synthesized,verified by DNA sequence analysis and expressed by Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system.The expression of CB-LHRH' proteins were identified by western dot blot using rabbit polyclonal antibody against LHRH as the primary antibody.To determine the anticancer effects of the CB-LHRH' protein,ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line HEC-1B were treated by different doses of the CB-LHRH' protein.Cell growth inhibition assay was performed using the 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)5[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide(XTT)kit at different times,and cell morphologic changes were observed under the inverted microscope.Results The inhibitory rate of proliferation by CB-LHRH' increased with the increase of dose and time respectively:SKOV3 cell,from(5.03?0.08)% to(53.24 ?1.22)%;HEC-1B cell,from(5.13?0.37)% to(56.16?1.08)%.The inhibitory effect on HEC-1B cell was stronger than that on SKOV3 cell(P

Objective To investigate the variation of coagulation markers and its clinical value in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods The plasma levels of von Willebrand factor: antigen (vWF: Ag), thrombomodulin (TM), prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F 1+2 ) and P selectin were measured by ELISA in 65 patients with type 2 diabetes (including 33 patients with vascular complication) and 38 healthy people. Results The plasma level of vWF:Ag, TM, F 1+2 and P selectin in group of type 2 diabetes were significantly higher than that of normal controls ( P

Our study investigated the neurotoxicity of quinolinic acid (QA) to spiral ganglion cells (SGCs), observed the protective effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK-801 and magnesium ions on the QA-induced injury to SGCs, and analyzed the role of QA in otitis media with effusion (OME)-induced sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). After culture in vitro for 72 h, SGCs were exposed to different media and divided into 4 groups: the blank control group, the QA injury group, the MK-801 treatment group, and the MgCl(2) protection group. The apoptosis rate of SGCs was analyzed by Annexin V and PI double staining under the fluorescence microscopy 24 h later. SGCs were cultured in vitro for 72 h and divided into four groups: the low concentration QA group, the high concentration QA group, the MK-801 group, the MgCl(2) group. The transient changes of intracellular calcium concentration were observed by the laser scanning confocal microscopy. Apoptosis rate in QA injury group was higher than that in blank control group and MgCl(2) protection group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between MK-801 treatment group and blank control group (P>0.05). In high concentration QA group, there was an obvious increase of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs, which didn't present in low concentration QA group. In MgCl(2) group, the peak values of the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs were reduced and the duration was shortened, but the intracellular calcium concentration in SGCs had no significant change in MK-801 group. It was concluded that QA could injure SGCs by excessively activating NMDA receptors on the cell membrane, which might be the mechanism by which OME induced SNHL, while Mg(2+) could protect the SCGs from the neurotoxicity of QA.

With the further research of spinal cord injury treatment, a series of new drugs have been used in experiment and clinic. This article is to review the current developments of drugs combination in spinal cord injury.

Recently traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-induced liver injury has been an unresolved critical issue which impacts TCM clinical safety. The premise and key step to reduce or avoid drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is to identify the drug source of liver injury in early stage. Then the timely withdrawal of drug and treatment can be done. However, the current diagnosis of DILI is primarily governed by exclusive method relying on administering history supplied by patients and experience judgment from doctors, which lacks objective and reliable diagnostic indices. It is obvious that diagnosis of TCM-induced liver injury is especially difficult due to the complicated composition of TCM medication, as well the frequent combination of Chinese and Western drugs in clinic. In this paper, we proposed construction of research pattern and method for objective identification of TCM-related DILI based on translational toxicology, which utilizes clinical specimen to find specific biomarkers and characteristic blood-entering constituents, as well the clinical biochemistry and liver biopsy. With integration of diagnosis marker database, bibliographic database, medical record database and clinical specimen database, an integrative diagnosis database for TCM-related DILI can be established, which would make a transformation of clinical identification pattern for TCM-induced liver injury from subjective and exclusive to objective and index-supporting mode. This would be helpful to improve rational uses of TCM and promote sustainable development of TCM industry.
Animals ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; metabolism ; Biopsy ; methods ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Rats

In order to solve the adhesion and the softening problems of traditional Chinese medicine extract during spray drying, a new method of adding dehumidified air into spray drying process was proposed, and the storage stability conditions of extract powder could be predicted. Kouyanqing extract was taken as model drug to investigate on the wet air (RH = 70%) and dry air conditions of spray drying. Under the dry air condition, the influence of the spray drying result with different air compression ratio and the spray-dried powder properties (extract powder recovery rate, adhesion percentage, water content, angle of repose, compression ratio, particle size and distribution) with 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 °C inlet temperature were studied. The hygroscopic investigation and Tg value with different moisture content of ideal powder were determined. The water activity-equilibrium moisture content (aw-EMC) and the equilibrium moisture content-Tg (EMC-Tg) relationships were fitted by GAB equation and Gordon-Taylor model respectively, and the state diagram of kouyanqing powder was obtained to guide the rational storage conditions. The study found that in the condition of dry air, the extract powder water content decreased with the increase of air compression ratio and the spray drying effect with air compression ratio of 100% was the best performance; in the condition of wet air, the extract powder with high water content and low yield, and the value were 4.26% and 16.73 °C, while, in the dry air condition the values were 2.43% and 24.86 °C with the same other instru- ment parameters. From the analysis of kouyanqing powder state diagram, in order to keep the stability, the critical water content of 3.42% and the critical water content of 0.188. As the water decreased Tg value of extract powder is the major problem of causing adhesion and softening during spray drying, it is meaningful to aid dehumidified air during the process.
Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humidity ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Powders ; Temperature