Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are common pathological features of diabetic vascular complications,such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Phenotypic modulation of VSMC is the basis for VSMC proliferation and migration. Therefore, studies on VSMC phenotypic modulation and its mechanisms in diabetes mellitus were of important significance to the prevention and therapy of diabetic vascular complications. This paper introduces VSMC phenotypic modulation and the underlying mechanisms in diabetes mellitus, and summarizes advance of studies on traditional Chinese medicine intervention upon VSMC phenotypic modulation, so as to provide reference for preventing and treating diabetic vascular complications with traditional Chinese medicines.
Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Phenotype

Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Balloon Occlusion ; Cardiac Tamponade ; etiology ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Coronary Disease ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects

Notch signaling pathway is involved in oogenesis and the secretion of ovarian hormones .It controls prolifera-tion and differentiation of ovarian stem cells .In addition, the Notch pathway is also involved in ovarian carcinogenesis .

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of bexarotene in combination with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on apoptosis of leukemic cell line KG1a. Methods KG1a cells at logarithmic growth phase were obtained, and were divided into TRAIL group, bexarotene group, 300 ng/mL TRAIL in combination with bexarotene group and 2.0 μmol/L bexaroten in combination with TRAIL group. Cell apoptosis rate was detected in each group by flow cytometry. Flow cytometry was also employed to determine the apoptosis rates of KG1a cells after treatment with bexarotene and TRAIL in different sequences. The expression of Fas associated death domain-like IL-1 beta converting enzyme inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) was detected by Western blotting. Results There was no significant difference in cell apoptosis rates between TRAIL group and bexarotene group of each concentration (except for bexarotene 2.0 μmol/L) (P > 0.05). The cell apoptosis rates of 300 ng/mL TRAIL in combination with bexarotene group and 2.0 μmol/L bexaroten in combination with TRAIL group were significantly higher than those in TRAIL group and bexarotene group of each corresponding concentration (P <0.01). Sequential analysis revealed that bexarotene could reverse the resistance of KG1a cells to TRAIL (P < 0.001). Compared with single use of 2.0 μmol/L bexarotene or 300 ng/mL TRAIL, combination use could significantly down-regulated the expression of c-FLIP (P < 0.05). Conclusion Bexarotene can significantly enhance the apoptosis of KG1a cells induced by TRAIL, which may be attributed to the down-regulation of c-FLIP expression.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment for the control of postpartum haemorrhage in cesarean section caused by placenta previa. Methods From Jan 2011 to Jan 2013, 21 patients with postpartum haemorrhage in cesarean section due to placenta previa were given transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment after routine medical treatment. And the hemostatic efficacy and safety were observed. Results 20 cases of the vaginal bleeding were controlled efficient-ly, with an efficiency of 95. 2%. There was no complication occurred, and menstruation were back to normal during the follow-up, and there was nothing abnormal in the uterine double accessories through B ultrasound reexamination. Conclusion Transverse compression suture in the lower uterine segment is an easy, safe and highly effective surgical technique, it is especially suitable for the control of haemorrhage in the lower uterine segment caused by placenta previa.

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its association with disease activity.Methods Pe- ripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from 28 patients(including 18 active SLE)and 22 healthy controls were counted and stained for CD4,CD25 and intracellular FOXP3.Cells were examined by 3-color staining on the Epics XL-MC and data were analyzed using EXPO32 software.Disease activity was assessed by systemic lupus erythematousus activity index(SLEDAI).Results The frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with active SLE compared with patients with inactive SEE and controls [(1.08?0.43)%,(1.58?0.45)% and(1.66?0.34)%,P

There is controversy regarding the roles of Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) colonization in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study explored the association between U. urealyticum and bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks post-menstrual age (BPD36). Studies published before December 31, 2013 were searched from Medline, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, with the terms "Ureaplasma urealyticum", "chronic lung disease", or "BPD36" used, and English language as a limit. The association between U. urealyticum colonization and BPD36 was analyzed with RevMan 4.2.10 software, using the odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) for dichotomous variables. Out of the enrolled 81 studies, 11 investigated the BPD36 in total 1193 infants. Pooled studies showed no association between U. urealyticum colonization and subsequent development of BPD36, with the OR and RR being 1.03 (95% CI=0.78-1.37; P=0.84) and 1.01 (95% CI= 0.88-1.16, P=0.84), respectively. These findings indicated no association between U. urealyticum colonization and the development of BPD36.

We use direct-write laser micromachining technology to fabricate the microfluidic chip, and to establish a microfluidic chemiluminescence immunoassay system based on superparamagnetic microbeads, for detecting alpha- fetoprotein (AFP). The AFP analysis can be completed in 20 minutes with 5 microl sample and 5 microl reagent, and there is a good linear correlation in the range of 1-800 ng/ml.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Luminescent Measurements ; instrumentation ; methods ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; instrumentation ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the acceptability of self-management project for patients with hypertension and the short term result, and provide the evidence of preventing and controlling hypertension using chronic disease self-management.

METHODSVoluntary patients with hypertension were grouped into the control and experimental groups after matching age, sex, education levels and the number of chronic diseases between the two groups. Data collected through questionnaire after intervention were compared with the baseline data through analysis of covariance and chi(2) test.

RESULTSRate of awareness for the diagnostic criteria of hypertension, risk factors and associated diseases increased by 56.4%, 50.4% and 37.6% respectively, and the rate of high salt diet intake, body mass index and the times of visiting doctors decreased by 27.1%, 0.8 kg/m(2) and 2.7 times on average in experimental group, as compared with control group. The health status (energy, fatigue, shortness of breathe, pain) improved (P < 0.05). In the similar comparison, the rate in which the hypertensive patients took antihypertensive medicine increased by 20%, and the scores of cognitive symptoms management and of patient communication with physician increased by 3.9 and 1.1 points respectively. The rate of compliance to medication increased by 21.5% compared with themselves.

CONCLUSIONThe awareness rate of hypertensive patients on knowledge and on unhealthy life style improved after implementing the self-management program. Their emotion, healthy behavior, health status and symptoms related to hypertension improved. Data showed that it was effective for hypertensive patients to use chronic diseases self-management.

Aged ; Awareness ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged

AIMTo study the vasodilation effect of atropine and its mechanism.

METHODSIsometric tension was recorded in isolated rat super mesenteric arteries precontracted by noradrenaline (NE) to study the vasodilation effect of atropine, and to investigate the role of endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell on vasodilation.

RESULTSAtropine was shown to significantly dilate the endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded arteries precontracted by NE. Nomega-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhabitor), indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), propranolol (general beta adrenoceptor antagonist) and glibenclamide (ATP sensitive potassium channel inhibitor) showed no effect on vasodilation of atropine. Atropine did not affect the concentration-contraction curve of K+. However, atropine suppressed the contraction induced by NE and CaCl2, but not that by caffeine in the Ca+ -free Krebs solution.

CONCLUSIONAtropine showed significant vasodilation effect which may derive, in part, from endothelium. Besides, atropine could inhibit the receptor-mediated Ca2+ -influx and Ca2+ -release, which was inferred to the mechanism of atropine on vasodilation.

Animals ; Atropine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Chloride ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Indomethacin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; drug effects ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Norepinephrine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Potassium Chloride ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology