Objective] To explore both the correlation of matrix metal oproteinase and the imbalance of its tissue inhibitors-MMP-2 and TIMP-2 with glomerulosclerosis and its research progress in traditional Chinese medicine. [Methods] We generalized the research progress in traditional Chinese medicine from such aspects as the biological properties of MMP-2 and TMIP-2 and their mechanisms, their relationship with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis and effects of traditional Chinese medicine on their expression by searching the relevant literatures. [Results] Expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 vary in different pathological stages(hyperplasia and sclerosis stage here) of glomerulonephritis, and traditional Chinese herbs could adjust their expressions in different stages. Traditional Chinese herbs can inhibit the development of glomerulosclerosis. [Conclusion] Applying traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of mesangialproliferative glomerulonephritis could provide the base for further development of TCM as wel as a new choice for treating mesangialproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Objective: To investigate the association between the CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism and the serum concentrations of carbamazepine (CBZ), to provide guidance for individualized drug dosing. Methods: Eighty-four epilepsy patients taking CBZ were included in this study. Their clinical data were recorded and CBZ serum concentrations were measured. The CYP3A5 6986 genetic polymorphism was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) assay. Patients were divided according to genotype into CYP3A5 expressor (CYP3A5*1/*1 genotype and CYP3A5*1/*3 genotypes) and non-expressor groups (CYP3A5*3/*3). The two groups were compared for the total dose of CBZ, dose of CBZ/kg body weight, serum drug concentration, dose-corrected serum concentration, and standardized serum concentration. Results: The total dose of CBZ and the dose of CBZ/kg body weight was higher in the CYP3A5 expressor group than the non-expressor (P = 0.043 and P = 0.014, respectively). The dose-corrected and standardized serum concentrations were lower in the CYP3A5 expressor group than the non-expressor (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). There was however, no signifi cant difference in serum drug concentration between the two groups (P = 0.487). Conclusions: There was a close relationship between CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism and the serum concentrations of carbamazepine.

Objective To explore the effect of skin expansion by B- mode ultrasound with modified Seldinger technique (MST) on preventing puncture site bleeding after the catheterization in breast cancer patients. Methods One hundred chemotherapy breast cancer patients who need to be catheterized PICC were recruited to participate in a randomised controlled trial in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute& Hospital, China. Fifty were assigned to the experimental group (using Intra- thecal intubation sheath), and 50 were assigned to the control group (expansion skin by scalpel). The two groups used modified Seldinger technique (MST) during the procedure of ultrasound guided PICC insertion, Patients errhysis and average frequency of dressing- change were collected for 1 week since catheterization to compare the effects of the two methods. Results Patients′errhysis and average frequency of dressing- change were (0.491±0.241) ml, (1.060±0.239) times in the experimental group, significantly lower than (2.903±1.046) ml, (3.500±0.646) times of the control group (t=15.889, 25.049, P < 0.01). Conclusions This study showed a lower incidence errhysis of skin expansion by intra- thecal intubation sheath used for PICC insertion. This technique deserved clinic application in PICC.

Objective To evaluate the methods and predictive values of obstetric conjugata measured by ultrasound.Methods A total of 200 women at 37～42 week's gestation,delivering a singleton infant and having an ultrasound examination within three days before delivery were studied.The obstetric conjugata,fetal biparietal diameter(BPD),fetal clavicula were measured by ultrasound,and compared with the obstetric conjugata measured in operation,newborn BPD,and newborn clavicula.Results The parameters such as obstetric conjugata,BPD and clavicula had no significant difference between ultrasonic measurement and actual measurement.When the obstetric conjugata and BPD difference

Objective To confirm the immunomodulatory effect of ursolic acid on normal and immunosuppressive mice caused by cyclophosphamide.Methods We assayed the function of T lymphocyte transformation with MTT test,examined the function of B lymphocyte with hemolysis spectrophotography,determined the function of non-specific immunity with phagocytosis of macrophages,and measured the content changes of Th_(1) cytokine IL-2 and Th_(2) cytokine IL-6 in serum with ELISA.Results Ursolic acid had a suppressant effect on the function of humoral immunity and enhanced cell-mediated immune response at the low dosage but presented opposite effect at the high dosage in normal mice.Ursolic acid significantly improved immune function on immunosuppressive mice caused by cyclophosphamide(P

AIM:To compare three different solvent extraction procedures affecting the extraction rate of polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.). METHODS: We used single factor experiments, optimized the extraction process of polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) by alkali solution and ethanol-alkali solution, respectively, and contrasted the two methods with the water extraction method that had been reported, determined the extraction rate of polysaccharide by optimum condition of three kinds of solvent. RESULTS: These results showed that ethanol-alkali extraction procedure had the highest extraction rate, 1.12 times more than water extraction procedure and 1.06 times more than alkali extraction procedure. CONCLUSION: Ethanol-alkali extraction procedure is a high effective and stable for polysaccharide from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.).

Objective To evaluate the effects of four types of variance reduction techniques ( ring counter grid, high electron cutoff energy, termination of electron tracking in some structures, and emission direction?biased sampling of source) on the efficiency and accuracy of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. Methods The single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife was modeled using Monte Carlo software MCNP . Four types of variance reduction techniques were used to simulate the dose distribution in the water?like phantom. The computation efficiency and simulation result were compared between the four techniques. Results All techniques substantially improved the computation efficiency and had little effect on the accuracy of the simulation ( relative error less than 2. 5%) . However, if the electron cutoff energy was above 50 keV, the simulation became quite inaccurate due to neglect of the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra. When the scattering of high?energy electrons and their dosimetric contribution to the penumbra were ignored, the dose to the Profile platform was overestimated and the dose to the penumbra was underestimated. Conclusions Rational use of variance reduction techniques can substantially improve the efficiency of Monte Carlo simulation for the single source channel of the Leksell Gamma Knife. However, the impact of variance reduction techniques on the accuracy of the simulation should be carefully evaluated.

Objective To investigate the value of the cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) cytology in diagnosis of intracranial germinomas by reviewing the outcomes of CSF cytology of 8 patients with intracranial germinomas. Methods Eight patients with positive CSF cytology at our clinic from January 2006 to June 2009 were reviewed. Conventional cytology and immunocytochemistry of CSF were performed. The relevant literature on the subject was reviewed. Results The patients, including 7 male and 1 female, developed endocrinological or neurological symptoms at the age of 13 to 25, and the typical neurological presentation included vertigo, headache, mental and behavior disorders, double vision and weakness of legs. The CSF cell count ranged from 0 to 300 leukocytes per cubic and elevated in 7 cases, typically lymphocytic inflammation. CSF level of human chorionic gonadotropin was 3.2-1087.0 mIU/ml, higher than the individual serum level. On CSF cytology studies, typical tumor cells of germinima were found, which had positive particles in cytoplasm on periodic acid Schiff stain. All presents had lymphocyte inflammation ( small lymphocyte predominant ). On immunocytochemical studies of CSF, the tumor cells were positive on placental alkaline phosphatase and Ki-67 stains. Conclusions CSF cytology is clinically useful for diagnosis of primary intracranial germinoma. Further clinical and cytological studies will be necessary for a better understanding of the biology of these tumors.

Objective To summarize the clinical and pathological features of glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ⅱ. Methods The clinical and pathological data of the 20 GSD type Ⅱ patients were reviewed. Results One patient with infantile-onset mainly presented hypotonia, muscle weakness, feeding difficulties, pulmonary infection and cardiomyopathy insufficiency and increase of serum creatine kinase (778 IU/L) and echographic evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were detected. Electromyography studies indicated a definite myopathy. Nineteen cases were late-onset, presenting a slowly progressive proximal myopathy with truncal involvement or with symptoms dominated by respiratory insufficiency. Not all muscles were equally affected. Increase of serum creatine kinase (208-2600 IU/L) was detected in 14 patients and normal level in 1 patient. Electromyography studies indicated a definite myopathy in 9 patients,with abnormal irritability in 1 patient and susceptible in 4 patients and myotonic discharge in 1 patient and no abnormalities in 2 patients. Echographic evidence of thickening of the interventricular septum and pulmonary hypertension were detected in 2 patients respectively. The common light microscopic feature of all case was a vacuolar myopathy with high glycogen content and acid phosphatase activity in the vacuoles. Conclusions GSD type Ⅱ often presents slowly progressive myopathy which often affect the toro and respiratory muscles.In most patients the serum creatine kinase level is elevated slightly. Muscle biopsy is of use to make the definite diagnosis of this disease.

AIM: To investigate the effect of silymarin on homocysteine-induced cell viability and apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by using MTT and LDH assay. Apoptotic cells were detected by using DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analysis. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the potential of mitochondrial membrane were determined by flow cytometric assay. The activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 were measured with microplate spectrofluorometer. Protein levels were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment of cultured HUVECs with HCY for 48 h induced a significant decrease in cell viability, and the percentage of apoptosis increased to 76.8%. The level of intracellular ROS and activity of caspase-3, -6 and -9 enhanced, and the red/green ratios of mitochondrial membrane decreased. However, simultaneous treatment with silymarin exhibited cytoprotective effects, reduced formation of the DNA ladder, prevented the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins and the accumulation of ROS as well as caspase-3, -6 and -9 activation, reconverted the potential of mitochondrial membrane, and the percentage of apoptosis/necrosis was significantly decreased to 12.7% in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that silymarin has the protective capacity to antagonize HCY-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. The antiapoptotic action of silymarin may be partially dependent on an anti-oxidative stress effects, inhibition of caspases activity, and maintenance of mitochondria function.