OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Litsea Coreana (TFLC) on the gap junction (GJ) intercellular communication in TM3 testicular Leydig cells and whether TFLC can reduce the cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin (OHP) in vitro.

METHODSWe detected the effect of TFLC on the dye spread of the in vitro cultured TM3 cells by parachute assay, observed changes in the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) total protein in the TFLC-treated TM3 cells by Western blot, and determined the effects of TFLC on the expression of Cx43 on the membrane of the TM3 cells by immunofluorescence assay and on the cytotoxicity of OHP by MTT assay.

RESULTSTFLC obviously enhanced the GJ function with the increasing of the TFLC concentration in the TM3 cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that TFLC significantly enhanced the expression of Cx43 total protein and Cx43 expression on the membrane of the TM3 cells. MTT assay showed that at a high cell density (confluent with GJ formation), 20 microg/ml TFLC enhanced the GJ function of the TM3 cells and reduced the cytotoxicity of OHP (P < 0.05), while at a low density (preconfluent with no GJ formation), TFLC exhibited no effect on the cytotoxicity of OHP (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTFLC increases the Cx43 expression and GJ function in normal TM3 Leydig cells, and the enhancement of GJ function reduces the cytotoxicity of OHP.

Antineoplastic Agents ; toxicity ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Count ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Male ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Proteins ; metabolism

Brain ; abnormalities ; Cerebral Cortex ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nervous System Malformations ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the cardiac hemodynamics after acute high altitude exposure in healthy young males and the relationship with acute mountain sickness(AMS).

METHODSLeft ventricular function and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) were measured in 218 healthy young males before and after high altitude exposure within 24 h respectively. According to the lake louise score criteria, the subjects were divided into two groups: acute mountain sickness group (AMS group) and non acute mountain sickness group (non-AMS group).

RESULTSHR, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI) cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI) were significantly increased upon acute high altitude exposure (P < 0.05). Whereas SaO2 and end-systolic volume (ESV) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, HR, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and MAP in AMS group were significantly higher than those in non-AMS group (P < 0.05). But stroke index (SI) and end-diastolic volume (EDV) in AMS group were significantly lower than those in non-AMS group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCardiac function in healthy young males upon acute high altitude exposure was enhanced. EDV, HR and SI might become the indexes of predicting the acute mountain sickness in the future.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of the gene polymorphisms of Toll-like receptor 2 ( TLR2) and TLR4 with the susceptibility and recurrence of condyloma acuminatum (CA).

METHODSUsing Snapshot, we detected the gene polymorphisms of TLR2 597(T/C), 1350(T/C), 15607(A/G), and 2258(G/A) and TLR4 896(A/G) and 1196(C/T) in the peripheral blood of 140 CA patients and 105 HPV-negative controls. We made comparisons between the CA patients and controls as well as between the cases of recurrent CA and those of non-recurrence at 6 months after treatment.

RESULTSThere were 72, 48, and 20 cases of genotype TT, TC, and CC of TLR2 597 (T/C), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 71, 31, and 3 cases in the controls. The gene frequency of mutant C was 31. 43% in the patients, significantly higher than 17.62% in the controls (χ2 = 12.04, P < 0.01), and it was 38.68% in the recurrent cases, remarkably higher than 27.01% in the non-recurrent cases (χ2 = 4.16, P < 0.05). There were 74, 49, and 17 cases of genotype TT, TC, and CC of TLR2 1350( T/C), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 73, 29, and 3 cases in the controls. The gene frequency of mutant C was 29. 64% in the patients, significantly higher than 16. 67% in the controls (χ2 =11.05, P < 0.01), and it was 36.79% in the recurrent cases, markedly higher than 25. 29% in the non-recurrent cases (χ2 = 4.18, P < 0.05). There were 44, 66, and 30 cases of genotype AA, AG, and GG of TLR2 15607(A/G), respectively, in the CA patients, as compared with 26, 58, and 21 cases in the controls. There was no significant difference in the gene frequencies of mutant G between the two groups (χ2 = 0.33, P > 0.05). No mutant genes of TLR2 2508 (G/A) or TLR4 896(A/G) and 1196(C/ T) were detected in either the CA patients or the controls. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed a tight linkage between TLR2 597 (T/C) and 1350(T/C) (D' = 1, r2 = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONTLR2 597(T/C) is tightly linked to 1350(T/C), which is correlated with both the susceptibility and the recurrence of condyloma acuminatum.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Condylomata Acuminata ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Recurrence ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics

Objective To explore the micresurgical techniques and outcome of tumors in jugular foramen and its around. Methods Eleven patients with jugular foramen tumors were operated through suboccipital-retrosigmoid approach (2 cases), jugular foramen approach (2 cases), temporal fossa approach (4 cases) and mastoid-cervical combined approach (3 cases). Results Nine tumors were totally removed and 2 were subtotally removed. Of those cases, there were 4 neurinoma, 4 paragangliome, I meningioma, 1 mucochondrosarcoma, and 1 low-differentiated carcinoma. Postoperative complications included transient cerebrespinal fluid leak(1 case) and new lower cranial nerve injury (2 cases). All cases were followed up for mere than 8 months. The postoperative hearing was improved in 1 case, stable in 6 cases, deteriorated in 4 cases. Postoperative facial paralysis of grade Ⅱ- Ⅲ occurred in 3 of 9 patients without facial paralysis, which recovered in half a year. Of 2 patients with facial paralysis before surgery, facial function was improved in 1 case and stable in 1 case. Conclusion Proper surgical approaches and micrceurgical techniques, which were adopted according to the types, the location, and the expansion of tumors, the function of facial nerve and lower cranial nerves, and hearing level, are good for reducing complications, exposing and removing jugular foramen tumors.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the level of serum uric acid(SUA) and carotid atherosclerosis in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). Methods A collection of 579 male T2DM patients with or without carotid atherosclerosis were grouped based on quartiles of SUA. Age, SUA, smokers, duration, body mass index(BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr), and HbA1C were determined in all subjects. The plaques in carotid arteries and intima-media thickness(IMT) were measured with high-resolution ultrasound. Results BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, TG, and Cr showed a gradual increase, while HDL-C and HbA1C showed a gradual decrease according to the higher SUA quartiles in male T2DM(P＜0.05). Nevertheless, the detectable rates of smokers, duration, age, TC, LDL-C, and BUN had no relationships with the SUA quartiles(P＞0.05). The detectable rate of carotid atherosclerosis and the thickness of carotid plaque were positively associated with the levels of SUA in male patients with T2DM(P＜0.05). However, intima-media thickness of carotid arteries did not illustrate the correlation with the levels of SUA in male T2DM patients(P＞0.05). Age, HbA1C, and SUA were independent factors of carotid atherosclerosis in these patients by logistic regression(P＜0.05). Conclusion The levels of SUA seems to be associated with the occurrence and development of carotid atherosclerosis in male patients with T2DM.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ulcer-preventive effect of bismuth glycyrrhizate on experimental gastric ulcer and its mechanisms.

METHODThree kinds of model animals with experimental gastric ulcer were established and gastric mucosal injuries were induced by pyloric ligation in rats, applying ethanol in rats and imposing stress in mice, respectively. The rats were divided into experimental groups treated with bismuth glycyrrhizat 700, 350, 175 mg kg(-1), positive control group treated with cimetidine (200 mg kg(-1), and negative control group treated with 0.1% EDTA. The mice were divided into experimental groups treated with bismuth glycyrrhiza 980, 490, 250 mg kg(-1). The gastric ulcer index, gastric juice volume, acidity, pepsin activity, the level of nitric oxide (NO) in serum and the level of prostaglandin E2 in gastric tissue were measured in rats.

RESULTBismuth glycyrrhizate was shown to be able to reduce the gastric juice volume, acidity and pepsin activity as well as gastric ulcer index. It could increase the content of NO in serum and the content of prostaglandin E2 in gastric tissue.

CONCLUSIONThe bismuth glycyrrhizate has antiulcer effect in rats.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; Bismuth ; pharmacology ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pepsin A ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective mechanism of Nervilia fordii (NF) by observing the effect of its pretreatment on lung aquaporin 1 and 5 (AQP-1, AQP-5) expression in rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal group (A), the NF pre-intervention group (B) and the endotoxin model group (C). Rats in Group B and C were made into ALI by endotoxin (5 mg/kg) injection via sublingual vein, and NF pretreatment was applied to Group B. Animals were sacrificed at the 8 h after modeling, their lung were taken for observing the water permeability change by wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) measuring, pathological feature by HE staining, and the expression of AQP-1, AQP-5 was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe W/D ratio of lung was higher in model rats than in normal rats, but as compared with Group C, it was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in Group B. The pulmonary edematous change was significantly mild and the AQP-1 and AQP-5 protein expressions were significantly higher in Group B than in Group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNF pretreatment can promote lung AQP-1 and AQP-5 expression up-regulation, increase lung water clearance and transportation to improve the water balance and eliminate pulmonary edema, so as to effectively protect lung from acute injury.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Aquaporin 5 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; Female ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of in-center nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) in uremic patients. Methods Thirty-two maintenence hemodialysis (MHD) patients received INHD (3 times per week and 7.5 hours each session) for 6 months.Before and 1, 3 and 6 months after entering INHD, blood routine, hepatic and renal function,serum electrolyte, lipids, parathyroid hormone and β2-microglobulin(β2-MG) were assayed, Kt/V and URR were calculated. Blood pressure of each dialysis session 2 months before and 6 months after INHD was recorded. Cardiac ultrasound and SF-36 questionnaire before and after INHD were performed. Use of drugs was recorded. Results Compared with 2 months before INHD, predialysis BP decreased [(130.3/86.0) vs (139.3/88.6) mm Hg, P＜0.01], while post-dialysis BP raised significantly [(121.1/80.5) vs (115.0/77.8) mm Hg, P＜0.01] 6 months after INHD.Intradialysis hypertension (9.8%vs 24.0%) and hypotension (7.3% vs 14.9%) both reduced (all P＜0.01). Serum phosphorus [(1.37±0.27) vs (2.08±0.49) mmol/L, P＜0.01] and iPTH [(355.4±139.6) vs (632.3±750.0) ng/L, P＜0.01] decreased, while calcium increased [(2.64±0.25) vs (2.28±0.37) mmol/L, P＜0.01], HDL[(1.27±0.29) vs (0.75±0.08) mmol/L] increased, LDL [(2.04±0.52) vs (2.75±0.75) mmol/L] decreased (all P＜0.05). URR [(79.7±0.1)% vs (64.7±4.7)%] and Kt/V (1.40±0.44 vs 0.89±0.25, P＜0.01) increased. Serum β2-MG decreased [(17.3±3.9) vs (24.6±5.9) mg/L, P＜0.01]. LVMI decreased [(99.8±29.0) vs (114.8±72.7), P＜0.05]. Physical functioning, role-physical and role-emotional of SF-36 increased (all P＜0.01). The types of antihypertension drug, dosage of EPO, Vitamin D3 and phosphorus binder decreased (all P＜0.01).Patients of drug withdrawal increased (P＜0.05). Conclusion The hypertension, anemia,calcium-phosphorus metabolism, lipid disorder, cardiac malfunction and the quality of life are improved in INHD patients.

Adult ; Female ; Fibrosarcoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans