In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using autologous vein graft and platelet-derived growth factors to bridge transected cavernous nerve in a rat model. A short defect in the bilateral cavernous nerve was created and repaired with vein graft from the right jugular vein or vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors. The 32 rats were divided into four groups, namely Group 1 - no repair as a negative control, Group 2 - vein graft alone, Group 3 - vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors, and Group 4 - sham operation as a positive control. We evaluated nerve regeneration and functional recovery using retrograde tracing study with FluoroGold, Toluidine blue staining of cavernous nerve, and the intracavernous pressure at 3 months. Three months after surgery, rich FluoroGold-positive cells were observed in the sham and vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors group, but very few were found in the no repair group. The number of myelinated axons of regenerated cavernous nerve and intracavernous pressure were increased obviously in the two vein graft groups, especially in the vein graft plus platelet-derived growth factors group. These findings confirm the feasibility of using autologous vein as guides for cavernous nerve regeneration, and the regeneration can be further enhanced when the vein is filled with platelet-derived growth factors.

This article is aimed to provide a method for the simultaneous analysis of five heavy metals, including Cu, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg, in Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma through ICP-MS. Five heavy metals were determined by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method after microwave-assisted digestion. The linear correlation coefficients were all better than 0.999. The lowest limits of quantification for all target elements were 0.003 0.134 ug·L-1, while the recovery values ranged from 80.04% 118.34%. This method was accurate, convenient, rapid, and highly sensitive, and can be applied to determine five heavy metals, including Cu, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg in Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma.

Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of Snail in 5 specimens jusxta-eancerous normal breast tissues, 35 specimens of cancerous tissues without metastasis and 20 specimens of breast carcinoma with lymphonode metastasis. Breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-231 was transfected with antisense Snail. Results showed that the expression of Snail protein was significantly higher in breast carcinomas than in their normal tissues. The mRNA and protein expressions of Snail in the breast carcinoma cells treated with antisense Snail was significantly decreased while the E-cadherin protein significantly increased (both P < 0.05). The number of invasive ceils treated with antisense Snail was (10.5±1.3)%, while in treated with EGFP was (68.2±2.1)% (P < 0.05). The abnormal expression of Snail contribute to the invasiveness of breast carcinoma. The antisense Snail could prevent the cells ability to invade in vitro, and the effect is related with the up-regulated E-cadherin protein.

The study is to develop a method to determine 3 batches leaves of Nauclea officinalis and stems of N. officinalis by HPLC. The differences between strictosamide contents and fingerprints was compared, then chromatographic peak of fingerprints was validated with the assistance of LC-MS. The strictosamide contents in stems of N. officinalis were higher than leaves of N. officinalis. The main chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis and stems of N. officinalis were alkaloid which revealed by LC-MS. There are 7 chemical compositions were same between them, but the chemical composition in leaves of N. officinalis is more than stems of N. officinalis. This provides a scientific basis for the development of the potential medicinal value of leaves of N. officinalis and the sustainable utilization of N. officinalis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rubiaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To explore the influence of acupuncture point massage combined with limb function exercise on ankle brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods According to scores by grace score scale, 180 CHD patients were divided into three groups: low risk group (n=58), moderate risk group (n=68) and high risk group (n=54). Within the three groups, the patients were divided into the experiment group and the control group by using the random digital table. The control group was treated with routine nursing intervention , while the experiment groups accepted acupuncture point massage and limb function exercise training on the basis of control groups. We collected the values of ABI and PWV at four points-in-time: before intervention, 7 days after intervention, 30 days after intervention and 90 days after intervention. Results Repeated measurement data analysis of the experiment group and control group suggested that:in the moderate and high risk groups, there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the data at the four time points. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in time and group interaction effect. The difference between the experiment group and control group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Repeated measurement data analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in ABI&PWV interaction effect at the four time points between the experiment group and control group. In the low-risk group,the differences in time points compared with the main effect were insignificant (all P>0.05). In comparison of main effect at all the four time points, there was significant different in the moderate and high risk group (P<0.05), And it suggested that time and group interaction, namely effect of time factor (1 d, 7 d, 30 d, 90 d), was not decided by the division of groups. In comparison of main effect, the difference was statistically significant (all P < 0.01) in the moderate and high-risk group, which indicated the main effect (intervention) playing main role. However, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) of ABI&PWV before and 90-days after intervention. Conclusion Acupuncture point massage combined with limb function exercise can effectively improve the peripheral artery blood supply in CHD patients, lower ABI and promote PWV.

Objective To is ol ate novel thyroid hormone-response genes, to study the characterizations of the ir expressions and to predict their possible functions in neonatal rats. Methods A neonatal rat model with congenital hypothyr oidism was established and cDNA fragments of novel thyroid hormone-response gen es from cerebral cortex of neonatal rats were obtained by fluorescence-labeled DD-PCR analysis, subcloning and sequencing. Complete cDNAs of novel thyroid hor mone-response genes were cloned by the techniques of electronic clone, RT-PCR and sequencing, their expressions regulated by thyroid hormone were confirmed b y Northern blot analysis, their distributions, transcription levels in different tissues and different brain areas were further observed by semiquantitative RT -PCR analysis, and their possible functions were postulated through bioinformat ic techniques. Results A novel complete cDNA of thyroid hormone-response protein-1 (TRP-1) gene is cloned. It is 973 bp in f ull-length (Gene Bank accession no. AF348365), and its transcription was enhanc ed in cerebral cortex in neonatal hypothyroidism rats. The expression of its mRN A was very extensive, but more abundant in brain. Its transcriptional level in d ifferent brain areas was not uniform, much higher in olfactory bulb. Its encodin g protein had some significant domains and motifs. Conclusion TRP-1 gene is a new thyroid hormone-response gene and may play an important role during normal brain development. Its abnormal expression may b e partially responsible for neurological defects in brain arising from thyroid h ormone deficiency during critical period for perinatal rats.

OBJECTIVEVasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin were previously shown in animal models of adventitia injury. We investigated the contribution of angiotensin II (AngII)/AngII receptors and oxidative stress to vascular contractility and reactivity in this model.

METHODSWistar Kyoto rats were divided into 3 groups: normal (n = 6, no any intervention, only for measuring the serum AngII concentration), vehicle (n = 12, collared), and valsartan (n = 12, collared + valsartan 30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)). After one week of treatment, adventitia injury was induced by positioning a silicone collar around the right carotid artery for one week. Blood flow and vascular reactivity to serotonin were determined one week after injury, the blood from left ventricle was taken to measure the serum AngII concentration by ELISA, and carotids were harvested for morphometry and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAdventitia injury induced lumen cross-sectional area reduction (-44% vs. -5%), media diameter increase (62% vs. 10%), blood flow reduction [(2.79 ± 0.22) vs. (4.33 ± 0.84) ml/min] were significantly attenuated by valsartan. The increased vascular reactivity sensitivity to serotonin in vehicle group was also significantly reduced in valsartan group. Serum AngII concentration was significantly increased in vehicle group [(45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml vs. (19.83 ± 0.5) pg/ml in normal rats, P = 0.0148] and the expression of AngII type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, AngII type 2 (AT(2)) receptor, as well as p22(phox) in collared arteries were significantly upregulated. Valsartan did not affect the AT(1) receptor expression but further increased serum AngII concentration [(89.73 ± 20.44) pg/ml vs. (45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml, P = 0.001], and AT(2) receptor expression, while downregulated p22(phox) expressions.

CONCLUSIONSCollar-induced adventitia injury resulted in chronic vasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin via increased serum AngII level, upregulated AngII receptors expression in the vascular well, and activated local oxidative stress. These changes could be blocked by valsartan suggesting a crucial role of AngII/AngII receptors on vascular contractility and reactivity changes in this model.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Connective Tissue ; pathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the leaves of Naudea officinalis.

METHODThe chemical constituents were separated by column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC techniques, and their structures were determined by spectral analysis.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated and identified as strictosamide (1), 10-hydroxy strictosamide (2), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (3), rutin (4), pumiloside(5).

CONCLUSIONAmong these compounds, 2, 3, 4 are isolated from the leaves of Naudea officinalis for the first time.

Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Rutin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Vinca Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

A reasonable method for the quality control of tablets of Ginkgo biloba leaves was established in this paper. The total flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones of G. biloba tablets were quantified by HPLC. Totally, 16 batches of the commercially available tablets of G. biloba leaves were determined. Among of them, 2 batches were unqualified in the content of total flavonol glycosides, and 3 batches were unqualified in the content of terpene lactones. A validated HPLC fingerprint method was established to evaluate the commercially available tablets of G. biloba leaves with the assistance of LC-MS. Sixteen batches showed the similarity of 0.763-0.989. There were 31 fingerprint chromatogram peaks were identified as flavonoids compositions by LC-MS. This provides a research idea for the quality control of tablets of G. biloba leaves.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Tablets ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) on the proliferation of prostatic smooth muscle cells (PSMCs) in vitro.

METHODSThe ERalpha shRNA expression frame was subcloned to the pGSadeno adenovirus vector by homologous recombination technology to construct the pGSaaeno-ERalpha vector. After the mouse PSMCs were transfected in vitro by pGSaaeno-ERalpha, the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERalpha were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The expression of IGF1 in the ERa-reduced cells was determined by Western blot 6 hours after treatment with 17beta-estradiol (E2) at 10(-8) mol/L. The post-transfection activity of estrogen or exogenous IGF1 in the proliferation of PSMCs was evaluated by MTT chlormetric analysis.

RESULTSAfter treatment with E2, the proliferation of PSMCs and the expression of the IGF1 gene were significantly increased in the normal control group (P <0.05), but not obviously changed in the ERalpha-siRNA group (P> 0.05). And exogenous IGF1 failed to induce the proliferation of the ERalpha-reduced PSMCs.

CONCLUSIONE2 induces the expression of IGF1 via ERalpha, and IGFl, with the interaction of ERalpha, promotes the proliferation of PSMCs.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Prostate ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics