To identify the active constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients in vivo from Yin Chen Hao decoction provides scientific evidence for probing its prevention and treatment mechanism on acute liver injury. An ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was applied for analysis of Yin Chen Hao decoction and the serum samples of mice with con-A induced acute liver injury after preventive oral administration for 14 days (the use of all laboratory animals in this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Naval Medical University, 19YF1459400). A total of 90 chemical constituents were identified from Yin Chen Hao decoction, mainly were flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, quinones. 5 prototype compounds were identified in the serum, including chrysophanol, deoxyrhapontin-8-O-gallate, mussaenosidic acid, herniarin, emodin. The established UPLC-QTOF/MS method could efficiently and sensitively identify the constituents in vitro and blood-absorbed ingredients of Yin Chen Hao decoction, primarily clarify the material basis of its hepatoprotective effect, and provided a scientific basis for the quality marker selection and the pharmacodynamic material basis research on the decoction.

It is unanimously accepted that stroke is a highly heterogeneous disorder.Different subtypes of ischemic stroke may have different risk factors,clinical features,and prognoses.The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors,clinical characteristics,and prognoses of different subtypes of ischemic stroke defined by the Trial of ORG10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria.We prospectively analyzed the data from 530 consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of stroke onset during the study period.Standardized data assessment was used and the cause of ischemic stroke was classified according to the TOAST criteria.Patients were followed up till 30 and 90 days after stroke onset.It was found that large-artery atherosclerosis was the most frequent etiology of stroke (37.4％),and showed the highest male preponderance,the highest prevalence of previous transient ischemic attack,and the longest hospital stay among all subtypes.Small artery disease (36.4％) was associated with higher body mass index,higher plasma triglycerides,and lower plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than cardioembolism.Cardioembolism (7.7％),which was particularly common in the elderly (i.e.,individuals aged 65 years and older),showed the highest female preponderance,the highest prevalence of atrial fibrillation,the earliest presentation to hospital after stroke onset,the most severe symptoms on admission,the maximum complications associated with an adverse outcome,and the highest rate of stroke recurrence and mortality.Our results suggest that ischemic stroke should be regarded as a highly heterogeneous disorder.Studies involving risk factors,clinical features,and prognoses of ischemic stroke should differentiate between etiologic stroke subtypes.

OBJECTIVETo explore a new access for internal rigid fixation of mandibular mid-and-low condylar fracture.

METHODS16 patients of unilateral mid-and-low condylar fractures were treated with a 2cm mini-retromandibular approach. The subcutaneous tissues superficial to the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) were dissected forward that parallel to the masseter muscle fiber bundles, aiming to the fracture. After exposing the fracture, the fracture segments were reduced and fixed under sufficient exposure.

RESULTSCorrect anatomic reduction and occlusion were achieved in all cases. Additionally, all patients showed normal articular function and the surgical scars were barely visible.

CONCLUSIONThe transmasseter approach by retromandibular access is one of the feasible methods for curing mid-and-low condylar fracture, which minimizeing the risk of facial nerve injury and reducing the visible scars.

Adult ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Fractures ; Masseter Muscle ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo find out the mechanisms of redifferentiation and reversion of malignant human gastric cancer cells induced by ascorbic acid.

METHODSHuman gastric cancer cells grown in the laboratory were used. The Trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine the cell doubling time. The electrophoresis rate and colonogenic potential were the indices used to measure the rate of redifferentiation. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and the content of H202 were evaluated by spectrophotography.

RESULTSSix mmol/L ascorbic acid was used as a positive control. Human gastric cancer cells were treated with 75 microm hydrogen peroxide, which alleviated many of the malignant characteristics. For example, the cell surface charge obviously decreased and the electrophoresis rate dropped from 2.21 to 1.10 microm x s(-1) x V(-1) x cm(-1). The colonogenic potential, a measure of cell differentiation, decreased 90.2%. After treatment with ascorbic acid, there was a concentration- and time-dependent increase in hydrogen peroxide (H202) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the activity of catalase (CAT) resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease. SOD and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT) exhibited some effects, but there were statistically significant differences between the SOD and AT group and the H202 group.

CONCLUSIONSAscorbic acid induces growth inhibition and redifferentiation of human gastric cancer cells through the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo observe characteristics of acupuncture in improvement of sleep quality in the patient of insomnia.

METHODSForty-six cases of primary insomnia were randomly divided into an observation group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 22). The observation group were treated by the needling method for regulating mental activity, with Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Shenmen (HT 7) selected as main points; the control group were treated with oral administration of Estazolam. The therapeutic effects and scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 83.3% in the observation group and 72.7% in the control group, the observation group being better than the control group (P < 0.05). Estazolam was better than acupuncture treatment in prolonging sleeping time, and the acupuncture treatment was better than the control group in the improvement of somnipathy and the increase of daytime functional state (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture treatment has advantages of improving somnipathy and increasing daytime functional state.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Sleep ; physiology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; etiology ; therapy

Objective To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) on the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen Ⅰ in human atrial fibroblast in vitro,and to explore the possible molecular mechanism of atrial fibrosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods Human atrial fibroblast,isolated from aseptic right atrial appendage tissues of 10 sinus rhythm (SR) and 10 chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) patients,were cultured with HGF and TGFβ1.mRNA expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),the protein expression of α-SMA was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot.Results (1) Compared with SR group,left atrium was significantly dilated in CAF group(t =2.692,P ＜0.05),the mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA of atrial fibroblasts were significantly upregulated (all P ＜ 0.01),mRNA expression of collagen Ⅰ was positively correlated with left atrial dimension (LAD) (r =0.836,P =0.014),AF duration (r =0.739,P =0.045) and α-SMA mRNA level (r =0.886,P =0.012).(2) Compared with SR group,the expression of α-SMA protein in CAF atrial fibroblasts were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).(3) TGFβ1 further stimulated while HGF significantly attenuated the expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in CAF atrial fibroblasts (all P ＜0.01).Conclusions Increasing expression of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in human atrial fibroblasts might promote atria remodeling leading to the development and sustaining of AF.HGF is involved in the negative regulation on the expression of α-SMA and collagen Ⅰ.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lead exposure on copper and copper metalloenzyme and the intervention effect of quercetin.

METHODSTwenty-four specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats of good health were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), lead acetate group (n = 8), and lead acetate + quercetin group (n = 8). The rats in lead acetate group were poisoned by drinking water with 1 g/L lead acetate for 8 weeks, while the rats in control group were fed by drinking water with sodium acetate of the same volume for 8 weeks; the rats in lead acetate+quercetin group were intraperitoneally injected with quercetin (30 mg × kg-1 × d-1) for 8 weeks while drinking water with lead acetate. The Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory abilities of rats. The lead and copper levels in the serum, hippocampus, cortex, and bone were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The level of advanced glycation end products, activity of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and content and activity of ceruloplasmin (CP) in the hippocampus and serum were measured using a test kit. HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus.

RESULTSThe Morris water maze test showed that the latency in lead acetate group (52.50±12.04 s) was significantly longer than that in control group (28.08±7.31 s) (P<0.05), and the number of platform crossings was significantly lower in the lead acetate group than in the control group. Compared with those in the control group, the lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate group increased 2.72-fold and 3.79-fold, and the copper in the cortex and hippocampus, and serum free copper levels in lead acetate group increased 1.15-fold, 1.48-fold, and 6.44-fold. Compared with the control group, the lead acetate group had a lower content of CP in the hippocampus (1.23±0.40 U/mg provs0.78±0.08 U/mg pro) and 31.81%and 19.49%decreases in CP content and Cu/Zn SOD activity. Free copper level in serum was positively correlated with the latency and lead levels in the serum, cortex, and hippocampus. The escape latency of rats in lead acetate + quercetin group was decreased by 42.15% (P<0.05). The lead levels in the cortex and hippocampus in lead acetate + quercetin group (0.246 ± 0.58 µg/g and 0.202±0.049 µg/g) were significantly lower than those in lead acetate group (0.391±0.49 µg/g and 0.546±0.120 µg/g), but the free copper and copper levels in the hippocampus and cortex were not significantly reduced. The lead acetate + quercetin group had higher Cu/Zn SOD activity and CP content in the hippocampus than the lead acetate group (P < 0.05). The light microscope observation showed that the number of cells in the hippocampus was reduced with disordered arrangement in the lead acetate group; with quercetin intervention, the hippocampus damage was reduced.

CONCLUSIONLead exposure results in disorder of copper homeostasis, while quercetin may alleviate the damage induced by lead to some extent.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; chemistry ; Copper ; blood ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; Homeostasis ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Organometallic Compounds ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible association between ZNF230 gene and azoospermia.

METHODSScreening for mutation of all 6 exons of ZNF230 gene was performed by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) in 99 patients with azoospermia and in 115 healthy men as controls.

RESULTSAn A-->G transition at nucleotide 316 in exon 6 was identified. There were significant differences in the distribution profiles of both allele and genotype frequencies between patient group and control group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). In addition,there was a statistically significant difference in the serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level between the patients with GG/GA genotype and those with AA genotype (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZNF230 gene may be associated with azoospermia, and the A316G mutation may be correlated with the serum FSH level.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of instant electroacupuncture (EA) at the different acupoints on IP3 in the uterus tissue of dysmenorrhea model rats so as to investigate the specificity of acupoints.

METHODSFifty female SD rats were randomly divided into a saline group, a model group, a Sanyinjiao (SF 6) group, a Xuehai (SP 10) group and a Hegu (LI 4) group, 10 rats in each group. The rats were given subcutaneous injection of Estradiol Beozoate injection for 10 consecutive days except those in the saline group, and intraperitoneal injection of 2U Oxytocin at 1 h after the last administration to create the dysmenorrhea rats model, and the saline group was given the same dose of saline every day. On the 10th day the rats in each EA group were given EA 20 min, and the rats in the saline group and model group were bound 20 min, and the writhing response was observed at the same time. The uterine IP3 contents were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

RESULTS(1) Compared with (0.311+/- 0.253) in the saline group, the writhing scores per minute of (5.867 +/- 3.442) in the model group and (2.311 +/- 0.957) in the Xuehai (SP 10) group were both increased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and (1.833 +/- 1.355) in the Sanyinjiao (SP 6) group and (0.743 +/- 0.306) in the Hegu (LI 4) group showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Compared with that in the model group, the writhing scores per minute decreased significantly (all P < 0.01) in all the EA groups, with no significant differences among all the EA groups (all P > 0.05). (2) Compared with (2.698 +/- 1.491) ng/mg in the saline group, IP3 contents of the uterus of (0.813 +/- 0.899) ng/mg in the model group, (1.740 +/- 0.375) ng/mg in the Sanyinjiao (SP 6) group and (0.692 +/- 0.212) ng/mg in the Hegu (LI 4) group were all lower significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and (0.743+/- 0.306) ng/mg in the Xuehai (SP 10) group showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Compared with that in the model group, IP3 content of the uterus in the Hegu (LI 4) group showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), and those in the Sanyinjiao (SP 6) group and in the Xuehai (SP 10) group increased significantly (both P < 0 05), which were significantly higher than that in the Hegu (II 4) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere are no significant differences among the instant EA groups in improving the dysmenorrhea symptoms, but there is obvious specificity of acupoint effects in the regulation of IP3. Electroacupuncture at "Sanyinjiao (SP 6) " Xuehai (SP 10)" has more marked effect in dysmenorrhea model rats.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dysmenorrhea ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterus ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the hemodynamic responses to nasotracheal intubation with Glide Scope video-laryngoscope (GSVL), Macintosh direct laryngoscope (MDLS), and fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB).

METHODSSixty patients, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I - II, aged 18- 50 years, and scheduled for elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia requiring nasotracheal intubation, were randomly allocated equally to GSVL group, MDLS group, and FOB group. After the routine anesthesia induction, nasotracheal intubation was performed with the GSVL, MDLS, and FOB, respectively. Noninvasive blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before (baseline values) and after anesthesia induction (postinduction values), at intubation, and subsequently at an interval of every 1 minute for a total of five minutes. The maximum and minimum values of BP and HR during the observation period were also noted. The rate pressure product (RPP) at each measuring time point was calculated. The areas under effect-time curve (AUE) of hemodynamics were calculated by time as X-axis and changes of BP and HR during the observation as Y-axis.

RESULTSAll the three groups were similar in the demographic data and intubation time. After anesthesia induction, BP and RPP in all the three groups decreased significantly compared to baseline values (P < 0. 05), while HR had no significant change. After nasotracheal intubation, BP, HR, and RPP in all three groups were significantly higher than the postinduction values (P < 0.05). In the FOB group, BP, HR, and RPP at intubation significantly increased when compared with the baseline values (P < 0.05). In the MDLS group, HR at intubation, and maximum values of diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), HR, and RPP during the observation were significantly higher than the baseline values (P < 0.05). In the GSVL group, all hemodynamic parameters at intubation and after intubation were not significantly different from the baseline values. BP, HR, and RPP at intubation, and the incidences of HR more than 100 bpm during the observation were significantly higher in the FOB group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). BP was not significantly different during the observation between the MDLS and GSVL groups, but HR and RPP at intubation and after intubation as well as AUE(HR) were significantly higher in the MDLS group than in the GSVL group (P < 0.05). AUE(HR) and AUE(SBP) were significantly lower in the GSVL group than in the FOB group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe hemodynamic responses to nasotracheal intubation are most severe with FOB, followed by MDLS, and then GSVL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult