Objective To investigate the impact of cyclosporine A (CsA) on atrial expression change of L-type calcium channel αlc subunit in a canine model of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing (400 baets/min) for 8 weeks in adult male dogs and placebo (n=6) or CsA (5 mg·kg-1·d-1, n=6) were orally administered to these animals. Sham operated animals served as normal controls (n=6). The atrial electrophysiological parameters including P wave duration, atrial effective refractory period (AERP) were recorded and analyzed at baseline and 8 weeks later. Animals were scarified at 8 weeks post final electrophysiological examinations and atrial expressions of L-type calcium channel αlc subunit were determined by Western blot. Results Compared to sham group, the P wave duration was significantly prolonged while AERP was significantly decreased in AF and CsA groups (all P <0. 05). AERP was significantly longer in CsA group than that in AF group (P < 0. 05 ). L-type calcium channel αlc subunit expression was significantly downregulated in AF group compared to sham group (P <0. 05) and CsA significantly attenuated this downregulation (P < 0. 01 vs. AF group). Conclusion CsA could attenuate the downreguahion of the L-type calcium channel αlc subunit expression and improve the atrial electrophysiological remodeling in this canine model of AF.

Objective To investigate the effects of ciyelosporine-A(CsA).a calcinenrin(CAN)inhibitor,on electrophysiological propertiesof atria in canine tachycardia-induced model of AF.Methods Eighteen healthy adult mongrel canines weighing 17.0 to 23.2 kg(rangedfrom 2 to 4 years old)were randomized to 3 groups,Sham group(no pacemaker was implanted),atrial tachypacing group(ATP group)each group at baseline and after 8 weeks' tachypacing.Measurements included atrial effective refractory period(AERP),conductionvelocity(CV),wave length(WE),atrial fibrillation load and rate-adaptability. Results After 8 weeks' atrial tachypacing,ATP andCsA groups showed significant longer duration of the P wave,shorter AERP,decreased adaptation of AERE slower CV,shorter Wland longer AF duration compared to the shamg roup (all P＜0.05).AERP of the CsA group was longer than that of ATP group (P＜0.05),but there were no differences in rate-adaptability,CV,incidence of induced AF and AF duration between CsA group and ATP group.Conclusions Our results suggest that calcineurin pathway intervention by CsA have a positive effect on tachycardia-inducedelectrical remodeling of atria,but can not prevent or reverse AF.

Objective To investigate the dynamics of the level of S100 in cerebrum, brainstem, and serum following the diffuse brain injury in rats and provide the experimental evidences for estimating injury time. Methods ELISA was used to determine whether S100 protein is changed after diffuse brain injury in rats. Forty rats were sacrificed at 0.5 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 d and 7 d after diffuse brain injury and normal rats as control. Results The level of S100 in cerebrum, brainstem, and serum increased, followed by a decrease, and then further increased. The level of S100 could be detected to increase at 30 minutes and reached the peak at 4 hours after DBI. The level decreased gradually to the normal at 1d and till 3 d formed the second peak. The level returned to the normal at 7d following injury again. In the postmortem injury groups, there were no significant changes compared to the control group. Conclusion The present study showed that the time-dependent expression of S100 is obvious following diffuse brain injury in rats and suggested that S100 will be a suitable marker for diffuse brain injury age determination.

Objective:To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Pericardium Meridian on the heart function of volunteers with acute hypoxia, and to provide scientific evidence for the acupoints selection along the affected meridian in acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. Methods:Based on a self-control design, eighteen healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Points from the Pericardium Meridian [Neiguan (PC 6), Ximen (PC 4), Quze (PC 3) and Tianquan (PC 2)], non-Pericardium Meridian point [Shousanli (LI 10)], non-meridian and non-acupoint points [1.0-1.5 cm lateral to Neiguan (PC 6) and Ximen (PC 4), respectively on both sides], and a blank control (only inhaling low-oxygen gas without EA stimulation) were selected to observe, once every week, 10 sessions in total, and only 1 acupoint was observed once. The volunteers inhaled low-oxygen gas mixture (10.8% O2 and 89.2% N2) for 30 min to imitate acute hypoxia. EA was conducted when the gas mixture was inhaled for 10 min and then lasted for 20 min; meanwhile, hemodynamic indexes such as cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), left cardiac work (LCW), left cardiac work index (LCWI) and heart rate (HR) were recorded on a hemodynamic monitor. Results:EA at the acupoints of Pericardium Meridian significantly down-regulated the increased CO/CI, LCW/LCWI, and HR (P<0.05), and significantly up-regulated the decreased SVR/SVRI in hypoxia (P<0.05); EA at other meridian acupoints or at non-meridian and non-acupoint points didn't produce such effects. Conclusion: EA at the Pericardium Meridian can obviously improve the cardiac hyper-activation caused by acute hypoxia in healthy volunteers.

Objective To investigate perception of high performance work system (HPWS) and work engagement for hospital employees in Hangzhou,take work climate for concerning employees as a meditating factor to analyze how HPWS influences work engagement by setting structural equation model.Methods Using cluster random sampling to select 983 hospital employees for questionnaire survey,data was analyzed by statistical description,one-way ANOVA and SEM.Results Hospital employees' average work engagement score was 21.62 ± 4.37.Both HPWS and work climate for concerning employees had overall effects on work engagement for 0.63 and 0.44 respectively.Meanwhile,HPWS made a direct effect for 0.24 and indirect effect for 0.39 mediated by work climate for concerning employees.Conclusion Work engagement for hospital employees could be further enhanced and carrying out HPWS and work climate for concerning employees shall help hospital employees feel the organization put great importance on them and work even harder in return.

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with adjuvant arthritis and to explore the mechanism of neovasculization in rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODSThirty rats were randomly divided into normal control group and model control group. The model control group were established the model of adjuvant arthritis using Freund's complete adjuvant. At 19 days after modeling, the expression of microvascular density (MVD), HIF-1α, VEGF were detected by ELISA assay and PTEN, PI3K, AKT were detected by Werstern Blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, paw swelling, arthritic index were increased, and the expression of MVD, VEGF, HIF-1α of serum, PI3K, AKT of synovial tissue were significantly increased, PTEN was significantly decreased in model control group. PI3K, HIF-1α were positively correlated with MVD; VEGF, AKT were positively correlated with paw swelling; PTEN was negatively correlated with the arthritis index; HIF-1α was positively correlated with VEGF; PI3K was positively correlated with AKT, PTEN was negatively correlated with PI3K, AKT, VEGF.

CONCLUSIONImbalance of PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in rats with adjuvant arthritis is one of the mechanisms of synovial neovasculization.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; physiology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; physiology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

In this study the effects of bone marrow stromal cells conditioned medium on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes and colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) in vitro were investigated. The serum-free bone marrow fibroblast conditioned medium (F-CM), bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (E-CM) and bone marrow macrophage conditioned medium (M-CM) were collected and ultrafiltrated by using Centriprep-10. F-CM, E-CM, M-CM, the retentate (>10 kDa F-CM, >10 kDa E-CM and >10 kDa M-CM) contained substances whose molecular weight was more than 10 kDa and the filtrate (<10 kDa F-CM, <10 kDa E-CM and <10 kDa M-CM) contained substances whose molecular weight was less than 10 kDa were added in liquid culture system respectively. The results showed that F-CM, >10 kDa F-CM and E-CM, >10 kDa E-CM significantly promoted the expansion of mature megakaryocytes in liquid culture system, the percentage of mature megakaryocytes compared with 0 h control were (287.33-/+16.77)%, (236.67-/+39.72)%, (141.21-/+17.47)% and (179.03-/+30.98)%. But <10 kDa F-CM, <10 kDa E-CM, M-CM, >10 kDa M-CM and <10 kDa M-CM had no positive effects on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes. The effects of F-CM, E-CM or M-CM on the expansion of CFU-Meg were also investigated. The results indicated that F-CM and E-CM promoted the expansion of CFU-Meg in liquid culture system. M-CM had no positive effect on the expansion of CFU-Meg. the percentage of CFU-Meg compared with 0 h control were (168.18-/+30.24)%, (215.17-/+17.4)% and (85.0-/+7.0)%. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR ) showed that transforming growth factor -beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA was expressed in bone marrow endothelial cells and was not expressed in bone marrow fibroblasts. Thrombopoietin (TPO) mRNA was expressed in bone marrow fibroblasts and was not expressed in bone marrow endothelial cells. These results suggest that F-CM, >10kDa F-CM and E-CM, >10kDa E-CM significantly promoted the expansion of mature megakaryocytes and CFU-Meg in liquid culture system. The effect of F-CM on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes is better than that of E-CM.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

Extraction is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. So the key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new extraction techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. In this paper, fundamentals, traits, and development status of new extraction technologies were firstly introduced, including ultrasound extraction, microwave extraction, super fluid extraction, semi-bionic extraction method, enzymatic treatment extraction, continuous countercurrent extraction, vacuum extraction. Then information of projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China was analyzed in order to recognize the assistance and research results of new extraction techniques. The patents authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office were also summarized for the purpose of understanding the achievement transformation. The information about extraction equipments was collected and screened to acquire the characteristics and market situation. The results showed that there are still problems about new extraction technologies, such as weak basic study, hard transformation of achievements, and the disconnection between research study and practical application. It is necessary to discuss the approaches and methods for accelerating the transformation of fundamental research, which will provide references for the long-term development of new extraction techniques of TCM.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; trends ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Translational Medical Research ; trends

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice.

RESULTSThe patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis.

CONCLUSIONWith little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Balanitis ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urination

To study the preparation method of Schisandra total lignanoids enteric (SLE) nanoparticles and evaluate its pharmacokinetics in rats, SLE nanoparticles were prepared by modified emulsion solvent diffusion method. The properties of SLE nanoparticles were evaluated of morphology, mean diameter and entrapment efficiency. An HPLC method was employed to determine the concentration of deoxyschisandrin (QS) and schisantherin A (SA) in plasma, which were used as an index of Schisandra total lignanoids, and the bioavailability of the nanoparticles was compared with the reference group by oral administration using SD rats. The nanoparticles observed by transmission electronmicroscopy were round, and the mean particle sizes of SLE were (36.7 +/- 4.4) nm. Entrapment efficiency of QS and SA were (97.5 +/- 0.7)% and (91.3 +/- 0.8)%, respectively. Its pharmacokinetic process calculated with 3p97 software was fitted to a one-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed sustained-release property. Compared with reference formulation, the AUCs of SLE nanoparticles were 2.3 and 5.8 times separately. These results suggested that the incorporation into Eudragit S100 of Schisandra total lignanoids can improve the bioavailability.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Cyclooctanes ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polycyclic Compounds ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra