ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of edaravone for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.MethodsThirty-six healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: a sham operation group, an ischemic model group, and an edaravone group (n=12 in each group).A focal cerebral ischemia model was induced by the suture method.Reperfusion was resumed after 2 h of ischemia;then the animals were sacrificed at 24 h after reperfusion.Edaravone 3 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in the edaravone group.The rats in the model group were injected equal volume normal saline.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptotic cells in the ischemic cortex.Western blot and immunofluorescent staining were used to detect the expression levels of LIM domain protein 4 (LMO4) and LMO4 positive cells.Results HE staining showed that cellular morphology was basically normal in the sham operation group;both the model group and edaravone group had cell necrosis, but the latter was less severe.The number of morphologically normal cells in the edaravone group was significantly more than that in the model group (P<0.01).TUNEL staining showed that no TUNEL positive cells in the sham operation group were observed.The TUNEL positive cells in the edaravone group was significantly less that in the model group (P<0.01).Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression level of LMO4 in the ischemic cortex in the edaravone group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01).ConclusionsEdaravone can alleviate the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibit neuronal apoptosis.Its mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of LMO4 expression.

Objective:To investigate the expression of wild type estrogen receptor(wER)and the ex-on-5 deleted ER(variant ER,vER)in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)samples,and thereafteranalyze the possibility of HCC treatment by endocrine therapy.Methods:The mRNA expressions of wERand vER were analysed from 28 cases of HCC by RT-PCR.The expression of ER at the protein level wasdetected by immunohistochemistry(IHC).Results:IHC results showed that 39.3% of the HCC speci-mens expressed ER.The mRNA of wER was detected in 89.3%(25/28)of the HCC specimens whilethat of vER was detected in 96.4%(27/28).Twenty four out of 28 HCC cases(85.7%)expressedboth wER and vER.One out of 28 patients(3.5%)expressed only wER whereas 3 patients out of 28(10.7%)expressed vER only.Conclusion:Ninety six percent(27/28)of the HCC patients expressedvER,which suggests that the expression of vER is an important event in the development of HCC.

Objective To study the positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) adjustment after recruitment maneuver during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) especially in the presence of tonic diaphragm electrical activity (Tonic EAdi) in order to obtain optimum PEEP and in turn to get successful oxygenation.Methods Rabbit model of ARDS was nade by intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid.After sufficient recruitment maneuvers,the rabbits were randomly (random number) divided into two groups,namely Tonic EAdi group ( n =5 ) and maximum oxygenation group ( n =5 ).In Tonic EAdi group,the regulation of PEEP was guided by Tonic EAdi.In maximum oxygenation group,PEEP was adjusted as per maximum oxygenation.The differences in magnitude of PEEP,pulmonary mechanics,gas exchange and hemodynamics were compared between two groups.The t-test was used to compare continuous variables between the two independent samples,and the difference was statistically significant when P ＜ 0.05.Results (1) PEEP:The PEEP was (10.7 + 1.4) cmH2O (1 cm H2O=0.098 kPa) in Tonic EAdi group and (10.0 ± 2.8) cm H2O in maximum oxygenation group (P ＞ 0.05). (2) Pulmonary mechanics:After PEEP adjustment,there was no significant difference in tidal volume ( Vr),peak pressure (Ppeak) and mean pressure (Pmean) between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ).(3) Gas exchange:After PEEP adjustment,there was no significant difference in oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide ( PaCO2 ) between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Tonic EAdi could be a good indicator for regulating PEEP in ARDS.

Phytochemical investigation on the EtOH extract from the aerial part of Callicarpa kwangtungensis led to the isolation and characterization of 10 caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides, 2'-acetylacteoside (1), tubuloside E (2), acteoside (3), tubuloside B (4), isoacteoside (5), alyssonoside (6), 2'-acetylforsythoside B (7), brandioside (8), forsythoside B (9), and poliumoside (10). Compound 4 was isolated from the plants of Verbenaceae,and 6 was obtained from the Callicarpa genus, for the first time, while compounds 1, 2, 5 and 7 were firstly reported from the plant.
Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Catechols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Verbenaceae ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effects of elasticity resistance (Ers) in respiratory system on oxygenation in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) after recruitment maneuvers (RM). Method Meta-analysis of data about the effects of recruitment maneuvers on oxygenation in ALI patients with different elasticity resistances in respiratory system carried out with pooling of study-oriented data stored in Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science databases from January 1999 to June 2010. Results A total of 281 articles were taken, and 20 of them included a sample size of 395 ALI patients. In patients treated with RM in different degrees of respiratory system elasticity resistance ( ≥33.3 cmH2O/L and ＜33.3 cmH2O/L), the effect of RM was better in patients with the high respiratory system elasticity resistance than that with the low one [(51.97 + 8.89) mmHg vs. (35.13 ± 10.33 ) mmHg], P ＜ 0. 01 ), but the high respiratory system elasticity resistance was potentially to lower blood pressure [(4. 33 ± 1.32 ) mmHg vs. (0.22 ± 1.03 ) mmHg],P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions This study suggests RM could improve oxygenation of ALI patients with high respiratory system elasticity resistance, and caution must be made to avoid hypotension during RM.

Objective To evaluate the lung V/Q imaging in the diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods Seventy-six patients (46 males,30 females,age 27-84 y) with clinically suspected CTEPH who had undergone lung V/Q imaging,CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA),pulmonary angiography (PA) and right heart cardiac catheterization were studied.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of lung V/Q imaging in detecting CTEPH were calculated and compared with those of CTPA.The x2 test was used for statistical analysis with SPSS 11.5.The distribution of involvement of segments in 47 patients with CTEPH was analyzed.Results Forty-seven patients had a final diagnosis of CTEPH and 29 had non-CTEPH etiology.The sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of lung V/Q imaging were 97.9％ (46/47),86.2％ (25/29),93.4％ (71/76),92.0％ (46/50) and 96.2％ (25/26),while those of CTPA were 78.7％ (37/47),93.1％ (27/29),84.2％ (64/76),94.9％ (37/39) and 73.0％ (27/37),respectively.The sensitivity (x2 =5.818,P=0.012) and negative predictive value (x2 =5.693,P =0.017) for lung V/Q imaging were significantly higher than those of CTPA.V/Q imaging could identify patients with CTEPH from those with idiopathic PAH and familial PAH based on the almost normal ventilation imaging.The lung perfusion SPECT imaging detected 585 (62.2％) of involved segments among 940 segments in 47 patients with CTEPH,with an average of 12.4 involved segments in each patient.The number of involved segments in the right lung was significantly higher than that in the left lung (36.2％ (340/940) vs 26.1％ (245/940) ; x2 =40.85,P＜0.01).Conclusions Lung V/Q imaging plays an important role in diagnosis of CTEPH and in identification of CTEPH from other types of PAH.A normal V/Q imaging can effectively exclude CTEPH.In addition,V/Q imaging can provide more diagnostic information in patients with a clinical suspicion of CTEPH who had negative results by CTPA and PA.

OBJECTIVETo study the in-vitro inducing apoptosis mechanism of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by 2',4'-di- hydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), a chalcone compound from Cleistocalyx operculatus.

METHODQuantitative DNA fragmentation assay was carried out to detect the effect of DMC of different concentrations on SMMC-7721 cells, according to the method of Sellins and Cohen with some modifications. Telomerase activities of the cells were determined by PCR-ELISA methods. The expression quantity of c-myc and hTERT mRNA were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR The effect of DMC on expression levels of cmyc and hTERT protein were measured by western blot.

RESULTThe percentage of DNA fragmentation increased with notable concen- tration dependence, after treatment with DMC for 48 h. Compared with that of control group, the telomerase activity of the cells de- creased by (66.2 ± 2.1)% after 48 h treatment with 20 μmol x L(-1) DMC, the mRNA expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (67.3 ± 2.1)% and (64.4 ± 2.3)%, respectively, and the protein expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (69.6 ± 1.9)% and (71.3 ± 2.4)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDMC can induce SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis and the apoptosis mechanism may be related to the decreased mRNA and protein expression of c-myc and hTERT.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chalcones ; pharmacology ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Syzygium ; chemistry ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect and impact of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and 120-W thulium: YAG vapoenucleation of the prostate (ThuVEP) on erectile function in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 93 cases of symptomatic BPH treated by HoLEP or 120 W ThuVEP. We made comparisons between the two groups of patients in the baseline and postoperative clinical and surgical indexes as well as their IPSS, quality of life (QOL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), and IIEF-EF scores before surgery and during the 12-month follow-up.

RESULTSThuVEP, in comparison with HoLEP, achieved a significantly shorter operation time ([57.6 +/- 12. 8] vs. [70.4 +/- 21.8] min, P = 0.001) and a higher laser efficiency ([0.71 +/- 0.18] vs. [0.62 +/- 0.19] g/min, P = 0. 021). At 1, 6, or 12 months of follow-up, no significant differences were observed in IPSS, OOL, Omax, and PVR between the two groups (P > 0.05). Both the HoLEP and ThuVEP groups showed low incidences of complications and remarkably improved IIEF-EF scores at 12 months postoperatively, but with no significant differences (both P > 0.05). However, in those with relatively normal erectile functions before operation, the mean IIEF-EF score was reduced from 22.8 +/- 2.2 preoperatively to 21.0 +/- 2.7 after HoLEP, (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONBoth HoLEP and 120W ThuVEP are effective and safe in the treatment of BPH. Compared with HoLEP, 120 W ThuVEP has even a higher laser efficiency. However, neither can significantly improve erectile function, and HoLEP may have a short-term negative impact on the relatively normal erectile function of the patient.

Aged ; Holmium ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Lasers, Solid-State ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Prostatectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Thulium ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urine

In order to clarify material basis of effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription, blood-heat and blood-stasis rat model induced by dry yeast was established. The changes of rectal temperature, blood viscosity and plasma viscosity were used to evaluate the cooling-blood and activating-blood effects of liangxue tongyu prescription and its parts. Compared with the model group, the extract from liangxue tongyu prescription, its volatile oil and n-butanol part could significantly reduce rectal temperature (P<0.01), and also reduce blood viscosity and plasma viscosity to various degrees (P<0.01 or P<0.05). So volatile oil and n-butanol part were primarily identified as effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription. By using GC-MS with normalization method of area to analyze volatile oil of liangxue tongyu prescription, 70 compounds were identified, accounting for about 92.54%, mainly as β-asarone, paeonol, α-asarone and shyobunone. 42 compounds such as peony glycosides, tannins, and iridoid glycosides were identified by HPLC-MS techniques and standard comparison. The study determined the effective parts of liangxue tongyu prescription and clarified the chemical composition providing the foundation for further studies on material basis of liangxue tongyu prescription.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tannins ; chemistry