Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND:Ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is one of the most common complications of myocardial infarction (MI), and ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation are the main causes for sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to explore the effect of ramipril on the occurrence of VA and its mechanism after MI in rabbits. METHODS:Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits purchased from the Wuhan Laboratory Animal Research Center were divided into three groups:sham-operated (SHAM) group (n=8), MI group (n=8) and MI with ramipril (RAM) group (n=8). Rabbits in the SHAM group received a median sternotomy without ligation of the left ventricular coronary artery. Rabbits in the MI and RAM groups received a median sternotomy followed by ligation of the left coronary artery. The successful anterior MI was confirmed by elevation of the ST segment with more than 0.2 mV in lead II and III. After MI, rabbits in the RAM group were fed with intragastric ramipril (1 mg/kg per day ) for 12 weeks. Before and 12 weeks after MI in the three groups, ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF) episodes and MAP in cadiocytes of the epicardium, mid-myocardium and endocardium were recorded by a multichannel physiograph. Student'st test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:VT/VF episodes were decreased more markedly in the RAM group than in the MI group after 12 weeks (2.6±0.8 vs. 12.4±2.9,P<0.05). Twelve weeks after MI, the duration of repolarization for 90％ (APD90) of three-tier ventricular myocytes in the MI group was longer than that before MI (258.2±21.1 vs. 230.1±23.2, 278.0±23.8 vs. 245.8±25.4, 242.6±22.7 vs. 227.0±21.7,P<0.05). However, the APD90 was not significantly different at 12 weeks before and after MI in the RAM group (P>0.05). Moreover, the transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) was increased more markedly 12 weeks after MI in the MI group than in the SHAM and RAM groups (36.2±10.2 vs. 18.7±6.2, 24.9±8.7,P<0.05). But the TDR was not significantly different between the RAM and SHAM groups (18.7±6.2 vs. 24.9±8.7,P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Ramipril may reduce the incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmia via improvement of transmembrance repolarization heterogeneity after MI.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on the STAT3 pathway and its downstream target genes of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft, and to explore its mechanism for treating HCC.

METHODSThe subcutaneous xenograft model was established using HepG2 cells. When the subcutaneous transplanted tumor was formed, naked mice were randomly divided into two groups, the BBP group and the control group. Mice in the BBP group were administered with BBP by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks, while mice in the control group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks. The body weight and the tumor volume were measured once per week. By the end of medication, the tumor weight was weighed and the tumor inhibition ratio calculated. The apoptosis of the tumor tissue was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/eukemina-2 (Bcl-2), cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK4), cyclinD1 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of signal transducers and transcription activators 3 (p-STAT3), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1 were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSBBP could inhibit the tumor volume and tumor weight, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Results of TUNEL showed that BBP could significantly induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells. Results of RT-PCR showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and down-regulate mRNA expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1. Immunohistochemical results showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and inhibit the protein expression of p-STAT3, PCNA, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1.

CONCLUSIONBBP could induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells and inhibit their proliferation by regulating STAT3 pathway.

Animals ; Bile ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Ursidae ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the changes of Th1/Th2 cells and related cytokine levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) fibrosis.Methods Forty-six patients with CHB fibrosis underwent liver biopsy during March and October,2011.According to the stage of fibrosis,the patients were divided into S0-1 group (n =15),S2-3 group (n =20) and S4 group (n =11).Ten healthy subjects served as controls.The frequencies of circulating Th1,Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry.The expressions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.The serum IFN-γand IL-4 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Intrahepatic expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Differences between groups were analyzed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test,followed by Mann-Whitney U test for multiple comparisons.Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.Results With the degree of liver fibrosis exacerbations,the peripheral Th1/Th2 cells frequencies ratio,IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA ratio in PBMCs,serum IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio and intrahepatic IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were declined (x2 =36.259,40.822,26.321 and 31.852,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Serum and intrahepatic IFNγ/IL-4 ratio were negatively associated with the stage of liver fibrosis (r =-0.616 and-0.531,P ＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that AST,PT and the serum IFNγ/IL-4 ratio were the risk factors for significant liver fibrosis (S2-4) (OR =5.933,95％ CI:1.324-26.586,P =0.02; OR =12.866,95％CI:1.746-94.788,P =0.01; OR=4.755,95％CI:1.034-21.862,P =0.04).Conclusions The CHB patients has imbalanced Th1/Th2 ratio.With the degree of liver fibrosis exacerbations,Th1/Th2 cytokines drift into Th2 lymphocyte sub-cluster,which suggests that Th1/Th2 imbalance may be involved in the pathogenesis of CHB fibrosis.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

Ductus Arteriosus ; abnormalities ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of adiponectin inhibiting activation of hepatic stellate cells in non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis.

METHODSThe rat models of non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis were successfully established by fat-rich diet administration. The expression of adiponectin mRNA and protein were respectively detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. LX-2 cells were cultured in an adipogenic differentiation mixture to induce quiescent adipocytic phenotypes, and then they were treated with TGFβ1, adiponectin and TGFβ1 + adiponectin, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the expressions of mRNAs and proteins of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), Collagen, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS). The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls test, and linear correlation analysis. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTSIn vivo, with the progress of non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis, the model rats gradually showed hepatic steatosis, inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis. Compared with the control group, the level of serum adiponectin (2.49 ± 0.86 vs 5.81 ± 0.87, P < 0.05) and hepatic expressions of adiponectin mRNA and protein (0.26 ± 0.04 vs 0.72 ± 0.08; 0.64 ± 0.07 vs 0.21 ± 0.07, all P < 0.05) were all decreased in the 24th week group, and were negatively correlated with the level of Collagen which increased gradually. In vitro, TGFβ1 could activate quiescent LX-2 cells by decreasing mRNA and protein expression of eNOS (0.30 ± 0.10 vs 0.44 ± 0.08; 0.30 ± 0.09 vs 0.46 ± 0.07, all P < 0.05) and increasing the expression of iNOS (0.53 ± 0.07 vs 0.37 ± 0.04; 0.55 ± 0.07 vs 0.39 ± 0.05, all P < 0.05). Recombinant adiponectin not only maintained the quiescent phenotype of LX-2 cells but also inhibited LX-2 cells activation due to TGFβ1 by increasing the expression of eNOS (0.43 ± 0.08 vs 0.30 ± 0.10; 0.42 ± 0.07 vs 0.30 ± 0.09, all P < 0.05) and phosphorylation of AMPK (0.43 ± 0.07 vs 0.24 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) and decreasing the expression of iNOS (0.44 ± 0.05 vs 0.53 ± 0.07; 0.46 ± 0.07 vs 0.55 ± 0.07, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSData suggested that adiponectin could play a protective role on the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells via up-regulating the expression of eNOS, which might associate with increased phosphorylation of AMPK.

Adiponectin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; pharmacology

AIM:To study the relativity between reject reaction from donation after cardiac death (DCD) and corneal endothelial cell source of corneal graft after penetrating keratoplasty.METHODS:Totally 28 cases of corneal graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty with cardiac death donor cornea were analyzed using corneal endothelial microscope at less than 1mo,2-3mo,4-6mo,7-12mo after operation.RESULTS:Coefficient variation of corneal endothelial cell of the 28 cases at less than 1 mo,2-3mo,4-6mo and 7-12mo were 38.23％,49.56％,57.18％,65.04％.Corneal endothelial cell density were 2071.15 ± 311.47,1771.33 ± 348.18,1626.59±353.92,1553.14±307.31.The coefficient variation of corneal endothelial cells was positively correlated with rejection (r =0.95,P ＜ 0.05).The postoperative corneal endothelial cell density was negatively correlated with rejection (r=-0.93,P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:The corneal endothelial cell coefficient variation increased gradually and the corneal endothelial cell density decreased gradually after DCD corneal allograft rejection.Corneal endothelial cell coefficient variation and corneal endothelial cell density can be used as indicators of early detection of postoperative rejection.

Steaming method is a traditional processing method for Gastrodiae Rhizoma(GR). The current studies on the steaming method's mechanism of GR are mainly focused on facilitating softening slice, destroying the β-glycosidic bond enzymes to reduce the decomposition of gastrodia glycosides (killing enzyme and protecting glycosides). The researches on the processing mechanism are still incomplete, while revealing and analyzing the active components in the body's metabolic process are important channels and new models to clarify the mechanism of traditional medicine processing. In order to provides a reference for the in-depth study of the processing mechanism of GR, we have reviewed the relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years and briefly summarized the processing, composition analysis and in vivo metabolism of GR in this study.

Objectives: This paper aimed to investigate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and explore the associated risk factors in a very elderly southwest Chinese population. Methods: From September 2015 to June 2016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to obtain a representative sample of 1,326 participants over 80 years old living in Chengdu. The presence of DM was based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h plasma glucose (2-hPG) levels during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios ( s) and 95% confidence intervals ( s) of the potential associated factors. Results: The participants' mean age was 83.5 ± 3.1 years. The overall prevalence of DM was 27.4%. The prevalence was higher in males (30.2%) than females (24.7%) ( = 0.02). The prevalence of DM increased with body mass index (BMI) and decreased with aging. The multivariate analysis suggested that male sex ( = 1.433; 95% , 1.116-1.843), hypertension ( = 1.439; 95% , 1.079-1.936), overweight or obesity ( = 1.371; 95% , 1.023-1.834), high heart rate (≥ 75 beats/min; = 1.362; 95% , 1.063-1.746), and abdominal obesity ( = 1.615; 95% , 1.216-2.149) were all significantly positively correlated with DM. However, age was negatively correlated with DM ( = 0.952; 95% , 0.916-0.989). Conclusions The prevalence of DM and newly diagnosed DM in a very elderly southwest Chinese population was high. OGTT screening should be performed regularly in people aged ≥ 80 years to ensure timely diagnosis of DM.
Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors