Brain ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mobius Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of hyperglycemia on the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling pathway in rat penile tissue and its relationship with erectile function.

METHODSTwenty healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into groups A (4-week healthy control), B (4-week diabetes mellitus model), C (6-week healthy control) and D (6-week diabetes mellitus model). The rats in groups B and D were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg to induce diabetes mellitus, while those in groups A and C with the same volume of normal saline. The animals were killed at 4 (groups A and B) and 6 weeks (groups C and D) after treatment for measurement of the maximal intracavernous pressure/mean arterial blood pressure (ICP(max)/MAP) by electrostimulation, determination of the H2S concentration in the plasma and penile tissue, and detection of the expressions of cystathionine-beta-synthetase (CBS) and cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in the penile corpus cavernosum by immunohisto- chemistry and Western blot.

RESULTSWith electrostimulation of the pelvic ganglia at 5V and 7 V, ICP(max)/MAP was significantly reduced in groups B (0.19 +/- 0.03 and 0.29 +/- 0.04) and D (0.14 +/- 0.04 and 0.25 +/- 0.04) as compared with A (0.46 +/- 0.07 and 0.68 +/- 0.09) and C (0.43 +/- 0.07 and 0.65 +/- 0.16) (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the level of serum testosterone either between groups A and B ([469.19 +/- 126.46] ng/dl vs [359.08 +/- 60.06] ng/dl, P > 0.05) or between C and D ([470.44 +/- 209.28] ng/dl vs [297.01 +/- 96.58] ng/dl, P > 0.05). Groups B and D showed remarkable reduction in the H2S concentration (P < 0.05) and the expressions of CBS and CSE (P < 0.05) in comparison with A and C, and the CBS and CSE expressions were even more significantly decreased in D than in B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe reduced concentration of H2S and decreased expressions of CBS and CSE in the penile corpus cavernosum of the diabetic rats suggested that the H2S signaling pathway might be involved in hyperglycemia-induced erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Hyperglycemia ; metabolism ; Lyases ; metabolism ; Male ; Penis ; enzymology ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Testosterone ; metabolism

The aim of this paper is to apply Raman spectroscopy technique to develop rapid quantitative models for five kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine containing CaCO3. In the experiment, Raman spectras of 67 batch of sample including Otolithum Sciaenae, Galaxeae Os, Ophicalcitum, Calcite, Stalactite and their mixture which had different content of CaCO3 were collected, and the quantitative models were established by using an improved siPLS to optimize the characteristic spectral bands and using the CaCO3 contents which were measured by EDTA titration method as references. Compared with the results by EDTA titration, the established quantitative model for CaCO, content showed a prediction result that the average relative deviation of the prediction results is 2. 71% and the average recovery rate was 100.46%, when the content is between 0.465 4-0.999 7, and when the characteristic spectral bands of 1 290-1 280, 730-714, 700-690, 660-650, 465-460, 455-445, 405-385 cm(-1) had been optimized. The result also showed that the model using Raman spectroscopy and based on an improved siPLS can get a rapid determination for contents of 5 kinds of Traditional Chinese Medicine containing CaCO3.
Calcium Carbonate ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Models, Statistical ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Salivary Glands ; surgery ; Young Adult

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; physiopathology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; physiopathology ; virology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology

Objective:To study the occlusion characteristics of the young subjects with bruxism before and after treatment by elastic occlusal splint. Methods:10 patients with bruxism and aged 22-27 years(n=10) were treated by elastic occlusal splint, before and 6 months after treatment they were examined by T-Scan occlusion detector. The occlusion time( OT) , disclusion time( DT) , oc-clusion force( OF) , the perentage of occlusion force( POF) , the changes of the position of center occlusal force( COF) and the asym-metry index of occlusion force(AOF) were observed and compared with those of the healthy controls(n=10). Results: ① In the case group there was significant difference in the OT and DT between left and right anterior teeth before treatment (P<0. 05), but not after treatment (P>0. 05). There was significant difference in the momevent of COF of left and right side, the POF of right side and the AOF between the 2 groups before treatment, but not after the treatment(P>0. 05). ② In the case group after treatment the OT and DT of left and right anterior teeth were shortened(P<0. 05). The POF of right side and the AOF were significantly improved. In the case group DT, OF center excursion, the left POF and the AOF showed no significant difference before and after treatment( P>0. 05). Conclusion:The occlusal factors such as early contact, lateral teeth synthetic interference, occlusal force center excursion have close relationship with bruxism. Elastic occlusal splint can effectively correct muscle dysfunction and make occlusal relationship more coordinated and stable, and therefore is effective in the treatment of bruxism.

Objective To investigate the effects of galangin on gene expressions of Nrf2 andγ-GCS in oxidative damage of A375 cell;To discuss its protective mechanism for anti-oxidative damage. Methods A375 melanoma cells were induced oxidative stress to establish oxidative damage model by 700μmol/L H2O2. The study was divided into normal group, model group, positive medicine group and high-, medium-, and low-dose galangin groups. All administration groups were given relevant medicine for cultivation. Cell viability was detected by MTT;ROS content was detected by ELISA;the gene expressions of Nrf2 andγ-GCS were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with normal group, cell viability decreased significantly;ROS content increased significantly;the gene expressions of Nrf2 andγ-GCS decreased significantly in the model group (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with model group, cell viability increased, ROS content decreased, the gene expressions of Nrf2 andγ-GCS increased significantly in all administration groups (P<0.05,P<0.01). Conclusion Galangin may activate Nrf2 signal path to realize the protective effect on A375 cellular oxidation damage through upregulating the expressions of Nrf2 andγ-GCS to promote the integration of Nrf2 and antioxidant response element and relevant regulatory enzymes.

Objective: To investigate the survival and individualized therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who achieved a stable disease state after induction chemotherapy. Methods:Data were reviewed from 204 metastatic colorectal cancer pa-tients, who presented a stable disease state after first-line and second-line chemotherapy at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Insti-tute and Hospital. The clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed. Moreover, we analyzed the significance of maintenance treatment in patients with certain mCRC characteristics. Results:Univariate analysis indicated that the line of chemotherapy, levels of CA724, CEA, and CA19-9, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were considered prognostic factors of treatment after induction che-motherapy. According to the multivariate analysis, first-line chemotherapy, as well as low levels of CA19-9 and PLR, with maintenance treatment after the induction chemotherapy was significantly associated with better survival. Among the patients with high levels of PLR, those who underwent maintenance treatment achieved a progression-free survival of 13.43 months (versus 10.63 months in pa-tients from the observation group, P=0.003). Conclusion:The levels of CA19-9 and PLR, and treatment after chemotherapy were signif-icant prognostic factors for mCRC patients who achieved a stable disease state after induction chemotherapy. These patients, especial-ly those with high PLR, could benefit from the maintenance treatment.

ObjectiveTo investigate the gene expressions of TAZ and Wnt/β-catenin on the postosteogenic cells of mesenchymal stem cells(MSC)in multiple myeloma(MM)patients and to explore the potential therapeutic target of multiple myeloma bone disease (MBD).MethodsBone marrow mononuclear cells MNC from MM and controls were isolated,cultured,expanded and then induced to osteogenic differentiation.Realtime quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect the osteogenic markers (TAZ,Wnt/β-catenin,OPN,OC,ALP and Cbf α1); and alizarin red staining for mineral deposition.The mRNA expressions of TAZ and Wnt/β-catenin in the two groups were analysed.ResultsAlizarin red staining was positive and the red calcium nodules were appeared on the post-osteogenic cells of MSC.The mRNA expressions of OC,ALP and Cbf α1 were 2.0958±0.5665,2.6670±0.3847,0.8463±0.3473,respectively,on the post-osteogenic cells of MSC in the experimental groups,which were significantly higher than those of pre-osteogenic cells(1.3487±0.9291,1.1452±0.6054,0.4439±0.2945) (t =2.171,6.709,2.795; all P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA expressions of OPN,OC,ALP and Cbf α1 were 2.1096±0.8267,2.8991±0.3531,4.3045±0.2844,1.3273±0.4075,respectively,on the post-osteogenic cells of MSC in the controls,which were significantly higher than those of pre-osteogenic cells (1.2200±0.9091,0.8780±0.3927,1.9161±0.2684,0.6736±0.2513) (t =2.289,12.103,25.134,4.411; all P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA expressions of OPN,OC,ALP,Cbf α1 were 1.2710±0.5636,2.0958±0.5665,2.6670± 0.3847,0.8463+0.3473,respectively,on the post-osteogenic cells of MSC in the experimental groups,which were significantly lower than those of control groups(2.1096 ±0.8267,2.8991 ±0.3531,4.3045±0.2844,1.3273±0.4075) (t =-2.650,-3.805,-10.822,-2.841; all P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA expression of TAZ and β-catenin were 2.2315±1.0723 and 0.5801±0.2159 on the post-osteogenic cells of MSC in MM patients,which were significantly lower than those of control groups (4.4140±0.8325,0.9516±0.2920) (t =±5.085,-3.235;both P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionThe gene expressions of OPN,OC,ALP and Cbf α1,the osteogenesis related genes,are increased in post-osteogenic cells of MSC,which showed the MSC have been successfully induced to osteoblasts.Comparing with control groups,the osteogenic potential of MSC in MM patients is lower.Based on the above research,TAZ and Wnt/β-catenin may present a novel target for the future therapy of MBD.

Objective To investigate whether recombinant human endostatin can create a time window of vascular normalization prior to vascular pruning to alleviate hypoxia in Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. Methods Kinetic changes in morphology of tumor vasculature in response to recombinant human endostatin were detected under a confocal microscope with immunofluorescent staining in Lewis lung carcinomas in mice. The hypoxic cell fraction of different time was assessed with immunohistochemical staining . Effects on tumor growth were monitored as indicated in the growth curve of tumors . Results Compared with the control group vascularity of the tumors was reduced over time by recombinant human endostatin treatment and significantly regressed for 9 days. During the treatment, pericyte coverage increased at day 3, increased markedly at day 5, and fell again at day 7. The vascular basement membrane was thin and closely associated with endothelial cells after recombinant human endostatin treatment, but appeared thickened, loosely associated with endothelial cells in control tumors. The decrease in hypoxic cell fraction at day 5 after treatment was also found. Tumor growth was not accelerated 5 days after recombinant human endostatin treatment. Conclusions Recombinant human endostatin can normalize tumor vasculature within day 3 to 7, leading to improved tumor oxygenation. The results provide important experimental basis for combining recombinant human endostatin with radiation therapy in human tumors.