Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) derived from bone marrow are capable of endocrine, reendothelialization of injured blood vessels and neovascularization of ischemic lesions; besides, they also play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the number and functions of circulating EPCs are greatly declined in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Functions of EPCs are associated with not only pathophysiological factors such as aging, hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, but also personal lifestyle such as exercise, body weight and smoking, which directly influence the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we mainly focus on the relationship between EPCs and cardiovascular risk factors and the potential roles of EPC therapy for cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To determine if there is an early developmental resistance to seizure-induced hi ppocampal damage. Methods Five daily pentylenetetrazol-indu ced convulsions in immature rats beginning at postnatal day P10,P60 groups.In b oth groups, the latency of seizure, the latency of Ⅳ/Ⅴ grade, the lasting time of seizure and mortality of rats after seizure were used to measure sensitivity of seizure or the resistance to brain damage. Conventional histopathological me thod was utilized to observe morpbological changes and cell counting of dentate granule cells, CA 3,CA 1 and hilar neurnns. Timm histochemical technique was a dopted to study mossy fiber sprou- ting.Results 1.In the both groups(P10,P60),there were significant differences in the latency of seizure (1.07?0.55 vs 8.27?1.48 P

Objective Study the ideal drug to treat age depen de nt epileptic ncephalopathy (ADEE) in earlier period. Methods fi fty-four patients with ADEE were studyed.21 cases used with single topiramate(T PM) as initial treatment and 27 cases used with TPM and antiepileptic drug(AEDs ) .Results Seizure was fully controlled in 11 patients with TPM m onotherapy and in 4 patients with TPM as adjunction.The differences was signif icant(P

Hazardous Substances ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Risk

Arsenic Poisoning ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shenxiong Huayu Capsule (SHC) on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) after total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats.

METHODSTotally 100 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the group A (by taking SHC once daily), the group B (by taking SHC twice daily), and the group C (by taking SHC thrice daily), 20 in each group. The total IR model was prepared by improved Pulsinelli's 4-vessel occlusion method. Morphological changes of the hippocampal CA1 region were observed by HE staining at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using immunohistochemical assay at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Meanwhile, the behavioral score was determined. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using Western blot at day 14.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the expression of GAP43 increased in the model group, the behavioral score was elevated, degenerated neurons increased, and survival neurons decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of GAP-43 increased (with the most significant difference seen in the group C, P < 0.01), the behavioral score significantly decreased, degenerated neurons decreased, and survival neurons increased in each HSC group (all P < 0.05). Survival neurons obviously increased at day 14, of which, most number of survival neurons and highest contents of GAP43 protein could be seen in the group C, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the group A and the group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHC had protective effect on total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1, which might be associated with increased expression of GAP43.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of transcatheter renal sympathetic denervation(RDN)in the treatment of resistant hypertension.Methods Clinical data of 10 patients with resistant hypertension treated by transcatheter renal sympa-thetic denervation were retrospectively analyzed.The blood pressure and complications were analyzed.Results In all of the 10 pa-tients,systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly after two weeks compared with preoperative,and further de-creased after 3 months (P <0.05 ).There were no statistical difference of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between 3 and 6 months(P >0.05).Before the RDN,the mean number of antihypertensive drugs was 5.3±0.9.After 6 months which was 3.2±0. 6,and which was decreased significantly compared with the preoperative (P <0.05).No adverse reactions were found.Conclusion The RDN can be quickly and sustained decrease the blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension.

This study is to investigate the effects of sophoridine on NF-kappaB signaling pathway in kidney tissue of endotoxemia mice and the mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caudal vein injection, then sophoridine was administered by intraperitoneal injection. Totally 50 mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, LPS model group, sophoridine treatment 12 mg x kg(-1) group, 6 mg x kg(-1) group and 3 mg x kg(-1) group. All animals were sacrificed at 6 hours after treatment. Kidney and blood samples were harvested. IKKbeta mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression of renal tissue was measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and phosphorylation IKKbeta protein (pIKKbeta) was detected by immunohistochemistry. NF-kappaB P65 protein expression and distribution of renal tissue were observed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence laser confocal microscopy. Serum TNF-alpha level was detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the sophoridine significantly reduced the expression of IKKbeta mRNA and pIKKbeta protein, and inhibited the expression of NF-kappaB P65 protein and decreased the entry nuclear rate of NF-kappaB P65 in the renal tissue of endotoxemia mice. Thereby the renal TNF-alpha mRNA expression and serum TNF-alpha level were significantly reduced. These results suggest that sophoridine could inhibit inflammatory reaction induced by LPS through inhibiting activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the changes of the intercellular spaces of squamous epithelium of lower esophagus in gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).Methods Eleven outpatients with GERD symptoms more than 3 months [6 with nonerosive reflex disease(NERD)and 5 with erosive esophagitis(EE)]and 5 healthy volunteers were recruited.All of them underwent endoscopy and 24-hr ambulatory pH monitoring.Biopsies were taken in lower esophagus(2 cm above Z-line)for electron microscope examination.Results Intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelial cell in volun teers,NERD patients and EE patients were (0.374?0.073)?m,(1.308?0.079)?m and (1.332?0.144)?m respectively,with significant differences between the control group and the NERD or EE group.There was no difference between NERD group and EE group.Conclusions Dilated intercellular spaces were seen in both NERD and EE cases,which was significantly different from the control cases.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and mechanism of tandospirone citrate (TC) on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS:SHR were divided into model group,positive control group (Levamlodipine besylate tab-lets,2.5 mg/kg),TC high-dose,medium-dose,low-dose groups(TC capsules,40,20,10 mg/kg),8 in each group. Other 8 nor-mal rats were chosen as normal control group. The rats were intragastrically administrated medicines,once a day,for 28 d. Systolic blood pressure(SBP)before first administration and after 0.5,1,1.5,2,3,4 h of administration in each group were measured, and SBP after 1 h of administration were measured once every 7 d. After last administration,nitric oxide(NO)content in serum, endothelin,renin,angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) and norepinephrine (NE) contents in plasma were detected. RESULTS:In single ad-ministration,compared with model group,SBP in 0.5,1 h in positive control group and TC groups after first administration were obviously decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01),then SBP were obviously decreased only in positive control group and TC high-dose group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In multiple administration,compared with model group,SBP in 7th,14th,28th day of administra-tion in positive control group and TC high-dose,medium-dose groups were obviously decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group,NO content in serum in positive control group,TC high-dose group were obviously increased;endothelin,re-nin,Ang Ⅱ and NE contents in plasma were obviously decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with positive control group, NO content in serum in TC groups was obviously decreased;endothelin,renin,Ang Ⅱ and NE contents in plasma were obviously increased in TC medium-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:TC can obviously decrease the blood pressure of SHR. The mechanism may be associated with adjusting the balance of NO and endothelin,and decreasing renin,AngⅡand NE contents.