Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; metabolism ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypericum ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

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.

0.05).(2)Whereas there was a significant difference in cardiac func- tion in patients received atorvastatin(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Investigation of simvastatin and its related substances was carried out using a reversed phase ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. The identification of impurities in simvastatin was performed with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source in the negative/positive ion mode. A total of 12 compounds were characterized in commercial samples, among which 2 impurities had never been reported. All the impurities were deduced based on the MS fragment pathways of simvastatin and the biosynthetic pathway of lovastatin. This work provides very useful information for quality control of simvastatin.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; Drug Contamination ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Simvastatin ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tablets ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To detect the existence of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods In this study 42 patients with a total of 47 HCC nodules underwent radical resection.Histological and immunohistochemical double staining of CD31 and PAS were applied to observe the existence of vasculogenic mimicry ( VM ). Reverse tanscription PCR (RT-PCR) were applied to study the expression of VE-cadherin, EPHA2 and MMP-2 genes. Results VM was found in 16 of the 42 (38. 1% )HCC cases. The typical forms of VM in the microscope are vessel-like structure formed by tumor cells,without endothelial cells and the PAS-positive looping pattern. The existence of VM in HCC correlates to a higher Edmondson grade, higher capacity of intrahepatic disseminating and poorer tumor-free survival time (P＜ 0. 05). Comparing the difference of VE-cadherin gene, EPHA2 gene and MMP-2 gene expression between VM positive nodes and in VM negative nodes by RT-PCR method demonstrated that VE-cadherin gene, EPHA2 gene and MMP-2 gene have a more intense expression in VM positive nodes than in VM negative nodes ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion VM exists in human hepatocellular carcinoma. VM occurred more frequently in higher malignant HCC and predicts a higher rate of tumor recurrence and poorer prognosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on DNA repair in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. MethodsThe expression of hOGG1 portein in HCC and the surrounding liver tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry assay. ResultsThe expression of hOGG1 protein in HCC tissue was significantly higher in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy than that in control cirrhotic tissues,that of paracancerous tissues,and in patients without preoperative chemotherapy( ?~2=4.8297,?~2=4.0292,all P

Objective To investigate the origin of α-SMA positive cells in the outflow tract ridge of the embyonic mouse heart and to explore the ultrastructure change of the mesenchymal cells during the ridges fusion. Methods Sections of embryonic day 10(E10d) to E14d mouse embryonic hearts were stained by immunohistochemistry assay with monoclonal antibodies against α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), α-sarcomeric actin(α-SCA) and in situ hybridization method with PlexinA2 probe. The outflow tract ridges fusion was observed by transmission electron microscopy at E12.5d. Results From E10d to E11d, PlexinA2 positive cells were seen in the neural tube with mesenchymes around it, the aortic sac and aortic arch. These cells also migrated into the outflow tract ridge along the aortic sac wall and part of them expressed α-SMA. At E12d, PlexinA2 was expressed in the spinal ganglia, the pharyngeal mesenchyme, the aorto-pulmonary septum and the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. The septum showed α-SMA strongly positive. But only a few of α-SMA positive cells were observed in the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. At E12.5d, two clusters of condensed mesenchymal cells in the outflow tract ridges formed and began to express PlexinA2 weakly and α-SMA strongly. When the ridges began to fuse, the endothelial cells formed a cellular seam, which rapidly broke into pieces and disappeared and were replaced by the sparsed mesenchymal cells containing a few of microfilaments. Two clusters of condensed mesenchymal cells gradully moved to merge. It was noted that some mesenchymal cells contained plenty of microfilament bundles, mitochondria and focal contacts between them. Some mesenchymal cells only had a few of microfilaments and plasma membrane fusion was seen between them. Conclusionα-SMA positive cells in the outflow tract cushion may be derived from cardiac neural crest. The endothelial cells might participate in the fusion of the outflow tract ridges by endothelial-mesenchymal transformation. Mesenchymal cells of the condensed cell mass contain plenty of microfilament bundles and focal contacts or membrane fusion, which contribute to the ridges fusion.

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) receptors type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ and their relationships with development of outflow tract(OFT) in mouse embryonic heart. Methods Serial sections of mouse embryos from embryonic day 9 (E9d) to embryonic day 14 (E14d) were stained using PAP immunohistochemical methods. Results Expressions of TGF-β receptors type Ⅰ (TGF-βRⅠ) and type II(TGF-βRⅡ) in the myocardial wall of OFT started at E10d, reached the reflection with splanchnic epithelium on the dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity at E11d. At E12d, expression intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in myocardium increased to its highest level, and TGF-βRⅡ positive mesenchymal cells in OFT ridges could be detected. After E13d the staining intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ decreased rapidly,and at E14d,their expressions had fallen at the lowest.Conclusion The expressions of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in OFT are confined to the period of E10d to E14d, they may play important roles in regulating the myocardial cell proliferation, remodeling and septation of OFT, and promoting the differentiation from mesenchymal cells in the secondary heart field into smooth muscle cells in the distal end of OFT.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects ofYixintaiGranules on expression of C-Myc mRNA and its protein in myocardial tissues of rabbits with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods CHF rabbit models were established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the Losartan Potassium group, the high-, medium-, and low doseYixintaiGranules groups. Besides, a normal control group was set up. Administration groups were given relevant medicine for gavage, equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. Echocardiographic indexes and mRNA and protein expression levels of C-Myc in myocardial tissue were detected after 4 weeks of medication.Results Compared with the normal group, the LVEF, LVFS, and E/A of the model group decreased significantly (P<0.01), but mRNA and protein expression levels of C-Myc in myocardial tissues increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the LVEF, LVFS, and E/A of YG groups and Losartan Potassium group increased significantly (P<0.01), but mRNA and protein expression levels of C-Myc in myocardial tissues decreased significantly (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionYixintaiGranules can effectively inhibit the expression of mRNA and protein expression of C-Myc, and improve cardiac function.