Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Amyloidosis ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; pathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; pathology ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

To investigate the modulation on the P-glycoprotein in the jejunum by combined use of Glycyrrhiza inflata and Kansui with ussing chamber and rt-pcr, Rhodamine 123 (R123), a P-gp substrate and fluorescein sodium (CF), a model drug of non-P-gp substrate transported by a passive diffusion were taken as investigational drugs. Because these two drugs can be easily assayed and widely used in various research fields. The permeability of R123 or CF via Wistar rat jejunum membranes was evaluated by in vitro ussing chamber after oral administration of four different decoctions of Glycyrrhiza inflata and Kansui for 1 week. And the concentration of R123 or CF was determined by the fluorospectrophotometry in the receiving solution. Meanwhile the expression of mdr1a in P-glycoprotein was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. After oral administration of combined decoction of the single drug, the absorptive directed permeability of R123 increased significantly (P < 0.01). On the other hand, Kansui and combine decoction of the two drugs also decrease the permeability of secretory directed transport (P < 0.05). No action of Glycyrrhiza inflata was found on the secretory transport of R123 [Papp = (2.56 +/- 0.38) x 10(-5), cm x s(-1)] across the jejunum tissues, while Papp of control group was found [Papp = (2.35 +/- 0.27) x 10(-5), cm x s(-1)]. After oral administration of Kansui decoction for 1 week and 2 weeks, the levels of mdr1a expression in Wistar rats were lower than that of the control group, but there were no significant difference in the results. Meanwhile, Glycyrrhiza inflata had no effect on transport of CF across the jejunum tissues, though the other three groups could decrease the permeability of CF, as compared with control group. Kansui may slightly inhibit P-glycoprotein function in the intestinal membrane. For another, some compositions in Kansui inhibit P-glycoprotein function, and some others strengthen the tight junction between cells in the intestinal membrane to decrease permeability of CF. As the inhibitory action to P-glycoprotein was enhanced by combination of Glycyrrhiza inflata and Kansui, based on the results, it may be one of the mechanisms of creating toxicity once co-administration of Glycyrrhiza inflata and Kansui.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; genetics ; metabolism ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Fluorescein ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhodamine 123 ; pharmacokinetics

Objective To observe the perioperative myocardial protection of high-dose atorvastatin to acute coronary syndrome(ACS) patients during percutaneous coronary artery interventional therapy(PCI).Methods One hundred and twenty patients with ACS undergoing elective PCI were divided into group A and group B with different oral dose of atorvastatin ( 80 mg/d and 20 mg/d ) for 3 days before operation by random digits table. Troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isozyme MB (CK-MB), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 levels were measured before operation, 6 hours, 12 hours after operation and total cholesterol (TC), triglyeride (TG), low desity lipeprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipeprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were measured before operation and 3 days after operation.Results cTnI,CK-MB,hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in the two groups were increased significandy 6 hours and 12 hours after operation (P <0.05). Six hours after operation, cTnI and CK-MB levels in group A were significantly lower than those in group B [(0.35±0. 18 ) μg/L vs. (0.48±0. 16 ) μg/L, ( 3.78±0.45 )μg/Lvs. (4.56±0.55 )μg/L] (P < 0.05 ). Twelve hours after operation , hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in group A were significantly lower than those in group B [(4.53±0.98 ) mg/L vs. (7.03±0.88 ) mg/L, ( 30.6±11.2) ng/L vs.(43.8±12.1) ng/L] (P <0.05). TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C levels in the two groups did not change significantly before and after operation (P >0.05). Conclusions Myocardial protective effects of ACS patients treated with atorvastatin 80 mg/d for 3 days are better than those treated with oral atorvastatin 20 mg/d. High-dose atorvastatin can produce more beneficial effects.

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutations of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) gene, to reveal its mutation features, and to establish a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal gene diagnosis of Hunter syndrome.

METHODSUrine glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) assay, PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to detect mutation of IDS gene of the patient and his parents.

RESULTSThe result showed that the patient was: DS(++), HS(++), KS(-), CS(-), and that both of his parents were negative. A frame-shift deletion mutation (1062 del 16) was identified in exon 7 of the patient's IDS gene. His parents' genotypes were normal.

CONCLUSIONThe patient's mutation was not inherited by his parents but a novel one. The mutation probably altered the primary structure and tertiary structure of IDS enzyme protein remarkably and lowered the activity of IDS enzyme greatly. Therefore it is supposed to be the direct cause of the disorder.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Mucopolysaccharidosis II ; enzymology ; genetics ; urine ; Mutation ; genetics

Objective To explore the endoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics of upper gastrointestinal tract metastasis,it can improve the diagnosibility of endoscopists and pathologists. Methods Three cases of upper gastrointestinal tract metastasis and seven cases in the related literature were studied, and its endoscopy and clinicopathological findings were analyzed with a review of the literature, whose gastrointestinal symptoms were the first manifestation. Results Case 1 endoscopic detection of esophageal ulcer lesions, pathological diagnosis of metastatic cancer, considering the source of the lung, confirmed by imaging examination; Case 2 showed that the gastric body was prominent, and the pathological diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. It was suggested that the clinical examination should be carried out without metastasis, and then confirmed by imaging examination and bronchoscopy biopsy; Case 3 endoscopic examination revealed multiple polypoid lesions in the stomach and duodenum, and was pathologically diagnosed as metastatic renal cell carcinoma. 3 patients were correctly diagnosed, thus avoiding unnecessary radical surgical treatment. 7 cases of patients in the literature were aged, they were also in a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms and the first diagnosis, no previous history of cancer, endoscopic lesions in the stomach or duodenum, supplemented by immunohistochemical staining in pathological diagnosis were diagnosed as metastases, the primary tumor site without organ specific. Conclusion The metastasis of upper gastrointestinal tract is rare, especially when the gastrointestinal symptoms were the first manifestation,it is usually missed and misdiagnosed. The diagnosis relies on the endoscopic and pathological examination, supplemented by the imaging examination, so the patients could get effective treatment in time.

BACKGROUNDAspermia caused by exogenous testosterone limit its usage in late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) patients desiring fertility. Saikokaryukotsuboreito (SKRBT) is reported to improve serum testosterone and relieve LOH-related symptoms. However, it is unclear whether SKRBT affects fertility. We aimed to examine the effects of SKRBT on spermatogenesis and fertility in aging male mice.

METHODSThirty aging male mice were randomly assigned to three groups. Mice were orally administered with phosphate-buffer solution or SKRBT (300 mg/kg, daily) or received testosterone by subcutaneous injections (10 mg/kg, every 3 days). Thirty days later, each male mouse was mated with two female mice. All animals were sacrificed at the end of 90 days. Intratesticular testosterone (ITT) levels, quality of sperm, expression of synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3), and fertility were assayed.

RESULTSIn the SKRBT-treated group, ITT, quality of sperm, and expression of SYCP3 were all improved compared with the control group (ITT: 85.50 ± 12.31 ng/g vs. 74.10 ± 11.45 ng/g, P = 0.027; sperm number: [14.94 ± 4.63] × 106 cells/ml vs. [8.79 ± 4.38] × 106 cells/ml, P = 0.002; sperm motility: 43.16 ± 9.93% vs. 33.51 ± 6.98%, P = 0.015; the number of SYCP3-positive cells/tubule: 77.50 ± 11.01 ng/ml vs. 49.30 ± 8.73 ng/ml, P < 0.001; the expression of SYCP3 protein: 1.23 ± 0.09 vs. 0.84 ± 0.10, P < 0.001), but fertility was not significantly changed (P > 0.05, respectively). In the testosterone-treated group, ITT, quality of sperm, and expression of SYCP3 were markedly lower than the control group (ITT: 59.00 ± 8.67, P = 0.005; sperm number: [4.34 ± 2.45] × 106 cells/ml, P = 0.018; sperm motility: 19.53 ± 7.69%, P = 0.001; the number of SYCP3-positive cells/tubule: 30.00 ± 11.28, P < 0.001; the percentage of SYCP3-positive tubules/section 71.98 ± 8.88%, P = 0.001; the expression of SYCP3 protein: 0.71 ± 0.09, P < 0.001), and fertility was also suppressed (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSKRBT had no adverse effect on fertility potential in aging male mice.

Aging ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fertility ; drug effects ; Hypogonadism ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Nuclear Proteins ; analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare primary anastomosis after intraoperative colonic defecation and Hartmann procedure for obstructive left colon cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 68 patients who underwent emergent laparotomy for left colon cancer with acute bowel obstruction between January 2000 and January 2008 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSPrimary resection and anastomosis with intraoperative defecation was performed in 43 patients and Hartmann's procedure in 25 cases. Patients in both groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, nutritional status, underlying diseases, tumor location and stage, etc. The morbidity and mortality in the two groups were 25.6% vs 28.0% (P=0.761) and 2.3% vs 4.0% (P=0.369), respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant. The length of hospital stay (including first resection operation and second admission for colostomy closure) was (16.6+/-7.8) d in the primary anastomosis group and (24.6+/-9.4) d in the Hartmann procedure group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.002). The costs of hospitalization in the two groups were CNY 50,192.8+/-39,727.4 and CNY 58,382.1+/-30,304.9 (P=0.020).

CONCLUSIONPrimary resection with intraoperative colonic defecation is safe and effective, and should be considered as an alternative to Hartmann procedure for obstructive left colon cancer in selected patients.

Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colon ; surgery ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Defecation ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proctocolectomy, Restorative ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyze the level of mortality of brain tumor and its changes at different periods in China.

METHODSDeath records for tumor of brain and central nervous system, which the code of international classification of diseases-10 (ICD-10) were C70-C72, were extracted from the database of the Third National Retrospective Sampling Survey of Death Causes in China during 2004 to 2005. The corresponding population data was linked to the data of death records, that the total population was 142 660 482 person years (72 970 241 person years in male, 69 690 241 person years in female). Then crude death rate, age-specific death rate, the constitute proportion to all death caused by tumor and the age-standardized death rate were calculated by taking reference of Chinese standard population or the world standard population. The indexes of mortality were compared with that of previous retrospective surveys of death causes at 1973 - 1975 and 1990 - 1992.

RESULTSThe result showed that during 2004 to 2005, the number died from brain tumor was 4463 and the crude death rate in China was 3.13/100 000, which accounted for 2.30% of the all number died from tumor (193 841 cases). The age-standardized death rate by Chinese standard population was 2.37/100 000 and the age-standardized death rate by the world standard population was 2.90/100 000. Of which, there were 2556 death cases for males with crude death rate of 3.50/100 000. While for females, the crude death rate was 2.74/100 000 (1907 death cases). Age-standardized death rates by Chinese standard population in male and female were 2.71/100 000 and 2.03/100 000 respectively. The age-standardized death rate by world standard population was 3.31/100 000 for male and for female that was 2.48/100 000. The age-specific death rate of brain tumor in China was increasing as age growing. The crude death rates were 3.78/100 000 (1809/47 899 806), 2.80/100 000 (2654/94 760 676), and the age-standardized death rates by Chinese standard population were 2.71/100 000 and 2.20/100 000 for urban and rural area respectively, and the crude death rates of brain tumor in east, middle and west region were 3.60/100 000 (1894/52 556 694), 3.14/100 000 (1565/49 781 225), 2.49/100 000 (1004/40 322 563). The age-standardized death rates by Chinese population were 2.57/100 000, 2.43/100 000 and 2.02/100 000. Compared to the data in the first survey during 1973 to 1975, in which the crude death rate was 1.13/100 000 and age-standardized death rate by Chinese standard population was 1.10/100 000, the crude death rate and age-standardized death rate by Chinese standard population were increased by 176.99% and 115.45% respectively. While compared with the second survey during 1990 to 1992, that crude death rate was 1.89/100 000 and age-standardized death rate by Chinese standard population was 1.74/100 000, the rising percent of the rates were 65.61% and 36.21% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe level of mortality of brain tumor has been changing with an increasing trend from the period of 1973 - 1975 to the period of 2004 - 2005. The rate in male was higher than that of female with great diversity in different areas in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Death Certificates ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of liquorice in functional modulation of intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in rats.

METHODSAn in vitro diffusion chamber system (Ussing chamber) was used to examine the direct effect of liquorice decoction on rhodamine 123 (a subtrate of P-gp) transport and evaluate the permeability of rhodamine 123 or fluorescein sodium through rat jejunum membranes after oral administration of liquorice decoction.

RESULTSDirect application of liquorice decoction did not obviously affect rhodamine 123 transport across the intestinal mucosa. Oral administration of liquorice decoction (10 g/kg, twice daily for a week) significantly increased the absorption of rhodamine 123 and also enhanced rhodamine 123 secretion across the jejunum mucosa. Liquorice had no obvious effect on the transport of CF across the jejunum mucosa.

CONCLUSIONLiquorice may slightly inhibit P-gp function in the intestinal mucosa to increase the intestinal absorption of rhodamine 123.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Animals ; Glycyrrhiza ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhodamine 123 ; metabolism