Puerarin is one of the most important effective components of Pueraria lobata which exhibited classic estrogen-like biological activities and had remarkable cardiovascular protections in vivo and in vitro experiments. These protections of puerarin are mainly exhibited on improving the myocardial cells membrane potential and arrhythmia based on effecting the Na+, K+ , and Ca2+ channels,resisting myocardial fibrosis damage, diastolic effect on blood vessels, promoting angiogenesis, resisting calcification and atherosclerosis, improving blood flow, antiplatelet aggregation, reducing lipid and resisting diabetes. The main mechanisms are to improve the membrane potential and reduce cardiovascular damage caused by inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, and the main regulated signal pathways are the PI3K/Akt, the NF-kappa B and the caspases.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

This investigation was to evaluate the implication of interventional therapy in postpartum hemorrhage at emergency settings. Due to the failure of conservative therapy, nineteen postpartum hemorrhage cases received digital subtraction angiography(DSA)followed by internal iliac or uterine artery embolization by using gelatin sponge. As a result, all of 19 patients showed good response to the treatment, and no recurrence Was found after 6 months' follow-up. Our findings suggested that artery embolization is a safe, effective and micro-invasive treatment strategy for intractable postpartum hemorrhage, which could reduce mortality and avoid hysterectomy as well.

Humans ; Otitis Media ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis

Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery

ObjectiveTo establish a surface location method and acupuncture manipulation standard by dissecting the local structure of rat point Renying(ST9)and make a validation through the hypotensive effect of acupuncture.MethodA Wistar rat was sacrificed and fixed by cryogenic freezing. According the anatomical characteristics of human point Renying, cervical point Renying region was dissected layer by layer, and the common carotid artery, the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery were bluntly separated. Location and measurement were made using vernier calipers and digital photographs were taken. Body surface location and acupuncture point depth were statistically analyzed to establish acupuncture manipulation standards. Point Renying and a non-acupoint were separately acupunctured to treat rat spontaneous hypertension. The changing tendency of blood pressure was statistically analyzed after four weeks.ResultAccording to the 95% reference value range, the surface location of rat point Renying was determined to be (8±0.3)mm below a line connecting bilateral mandibular angles and (5.5±0.4)mm lateral to the anterior midline, one on each side. Acupuncture manipulation standards were perpendicular insertion (5.5±0.4)mm and cautious lifting and thrusting to avoid injuring the artery. Acupuncture at point Renying had a marked hypotensive effect as compared with a non-acupoint (P<0.05).ConclusionThe surface location of rat point Renying is reliable and can be applied to animal experimental study.

Best vitelliform macular dystrophy ( BVMD ) is an autosomal dominant disease mostly caused by mutations in BEST1 gene. These mutations change the normal physiological functions of BEST1-encoded bestrophin-1 protein, and finally lead to a reduction of visual acuity. This review is composed of the following aspects: the structure and functions of BEST1 gene, the characteristics of the mutations, clinical features of BVMD, genotype-phenotype correlations as well as possible gene therapy. Our contribution serves for further research on BVMD and BEST1 gene.

Capsid Proteins ; metabolism ; Endocytosis ; physiology ; Virus Internalization ; Viruses ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a gold standard to treat degenerative cervical syndrome. However, with the increasing application and follow-up data of ACDF, its adverse effects have been shown. In the past 20 years,artificial cervical disc replacement has been widely used in clinic, and the therapeutic effect is favorable.OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of cervical disc replacement versus ACDF for cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy.METHODS: A computer-based online search of Medline (1966/2009-06), Embase (1966/2009-06), CBM (2009-06) and CNKI(2009-06), as well as Cochrane Back Group, and Cochrane library were performed to collect randomized controlled trials of cervical disc replacement versus ACDF. Data were evaluated by RevMan4.2.2 for Meta analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 15 studies were included. Meta-analysis indicates that no differences were found in the mean operation time, mean blood loss, mean hospital stay, satisfaction rate, and complication between two groups; the reoperation rate of the disc replacement group was lower than ACDF group in two years postoperation; disc replacement group was more efficient in improving cervical function indexes than ACDF group, and the postoperative SF-36 scores were significantly more than ACDF group. Moreover, postoperative motion range of affected segment was significantly greater in the disc replacement group than the ACDF, and the motion rage of adjacent segment was significantly increased in patients underwent ACDF compared with disc replacement treatment. However, there may be bias, more randomized controlled trials are required.

Objective:To develop nano-TiO_2 ceramic-coated orthodontic brackets, and to study the surface characters of ceramic film. Methods:TiO_2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the Gel-Sol method. Electron beam physical vapor deposition(e-beam PVD)technology was used to deposit the nano-TiO_2 ceramic film on the surface of the orthodontic brackets, which were manufactured by the Xinya factory, Hangzhou.The surface properties of the nano-TiO_2 ceramic film were observed with scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and X ray power diffraction(XRD).Results:The synthesized TiO_2 particles were uniform with the diameter of (6?2) nm. The TiO_2 ceramic film on the orthodontic brackets was 5~8 ?m in thickness, with smooth surface and anatase stratiform structure.Conclusions:The nano- TiO_2 ceramic film has good surface properties and actinochemistry characters without any influence on the slot size.

Metallic cancellous screw is one of the fixation devices widely used for bone fractures. It has always been reported that many cases of internal fixation failed just because of screw loosening or pullout. The stability of fixation is associated with the pullout strength of screws. The pullout strength strongly depends on the geometrical design of the screw thread, the material and the insertion technique of the screw, and the bone mineral density of the insertion site of the screw.