PURPOSE: In adriamycin(ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy, several different mechanisms are suggested. However, little information is available regarding the role of apoptosis. In the present study, we examined the induction of apoptosis on ADR treatment and anti-apoptotic effects of probucol, a lipid-lowering drug, and we also studied the changes of bcl-2 expression in order to see the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of probucol. METHODS: Cardiac myocytes were isolated from 3-day-old rats, and cultured in low(1 pM) or high doses(10pM) of ADR for 24 hours. Probucol(50 pM) was added 30 minutes before ADR administration. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining, and bcl-2 expression was estimated by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The number of TUNEL-positive cells significantly increased in both groups treated with ADR. However, anti-apoptotic effect of probucol was evident only in low dose. In addition, the expression of bcl-2 was significantly increased only in the low-dose ADR treatment group and its expression was inhibited by pretreatment of probucol. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that apoptosis might play an important role in ADR-induced cardiotoxicity, and ADR-induced apoptosis was partially prevented by pretreatment of probucol. And ADR-induced apoptosis was not related with depression of bcl-2. Additionally, inhibition of bcl-2 gene expression of low-dose ADR treatment group by probucol suggests that another cell survival mechanism could be implicated in the action of probucol. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:746-754)
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cell Survival ; Depression ; Doxorubicin ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Probucol* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Constriction, Pathologic*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Oligochaeta* ; Prospective Studies*

The authors have made a CD-ROM titled 'Atlas of Pathology (AP)' for medical students to understand histopathologic findings with ease. We used a 35 mm film scanner to convert an existing file into digital images. A pathologist and two professional programmers collaborated to create the program 'AtlasMaster 1.0' based on (IBM) PC for organization of previously captured digital images. Minimum system requirement for the 'AP' was Pentium II 166 MHz, 32 MB RAM, Windows 95 or 98, 800 600 resolution, 16-bit color, 20 speed CD-ROM drive. The 'AP' was composed of a execution file (Pathology_Atlas.exe), a DB file (pathology.mdb), and reference files (*.bmp, *.jpg, *.txt). The DB file contained fields for chapter, section, disease entity, and information for location of reference files. About 1,000 color images for various kinds of gross and microscopic pictures were stored in the CD-ROM and those were classified according to the chapters, sections, and disease entities. The 'AP' was easy to manipulate, and had advantages of self-learning for students. It could be applied to other fields in which many images were dealt with, such as histology, radiology, endoscopy, dermatology, and plastic surgery. The 'AP' was handy and very useful for medical students to study pathology and it would be a powerful self-learning tool.
CD-ROM* ; Dermatology ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Pathology ; Students, Medical* ; Surgery, Plastic

Objective To investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin on gene expression of transforming growth factor(TGF)-?signaling pathway of hepatic stellate cell(HSC)in mice by gene microarray tech- nique.Methods The HSCs were isolated from mice and cultured in vitro.Then the mice were divided into control group,TGF-?_1 group(5 ng/ml) or TGF-?_1(5 ng/ml)combined with glycyrrhizin(100?mol/L) group.The cells were collected after 10 hours to extract RNA.A cDNA microarray(GEArray~(TM) Q) targeting TGF-?/BMP signal transduction was used to screen the genes which showed significant changes in expression of TGF-?pathway of HSC by glycyrrhizin.Results The microarray analysis showed that 16 genes(16.7%),such as Smad2,Smad3,Smad7,CoL3A1,CoL1A2,and PAI-1,were upregulated by TGF-?_1 and then down-regulated by glycyrrhizin.Five genes(5.2%)(including BMP7,IGFbp3 and etc.)downregulated by TGF-?_1,were then up-regulated by glycyrrhizin.Finally,2 genes upregulated by TGF-?_1 were then up-regulated predominantly by glycyrrhizin in HSC(T?R2,betaglycan).Changes in some genes,such as Smad2 Smad3,Smad7,were further confirmed to be coincided with cDNA microarray by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Conclusions The anti-fibrosis mechanisms of glycyrrhizin may be through to interference of TGF-?signaling pathway,decrease the synthesis and increase the degradation of collagen.

According to recent studies,cardiovascular disease,infection and malnutrition are the most common complications of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD),which also the main causes of death. Further studies illustrate that dialysis patients with micro-inflammatory state,which relate to patient uremia and hemodialysis,further more,closely related to the existing micro-inflammatory response to the above complications. Accordingly,to explore the mechanism in MHD patients with micro-inflammatory response,and to search for the effective micro-inflammation treatment,in addition,to enhance the quality of life of patients with MHD and survival rate has become a hot spot in recent years.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: In clinical, the research on the method and the material of the soft tissue defect of the operation area has been in depth. It wil have a positive impact on our exploration and research in this field through the establishment of reliable experimental animal oral soft tissue defect model. OBJECTIVE: To establish a rabbit model of oral soft tissue defects for oral treatment of soft tissue defects in-depth study. METHODS: Eighteen 3-month-old male New Zealand rabbits were enrol ed. A tissue ring cutting dril of 5 mm diameter was used to prepare round ful -thickness soft tissue defects in the front part of the hard palate and, respectively, from the back of the maxil ary incisors, about 2 mm from the hard palate mucosal edge. Morphology and histology were observed at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 56 days after model establishment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Morphological observation: After 3 and 7 days, the wound’s inflammatory reaction was obvious. As the time goes, the inflammatory response subsided, the wound gradual y healed. Scar formation was observed at 21, 28 and 56 days after surgery. (2) Histological observation: 3 and 7 days after injury, many inflammatory cel s were infiltrating, and tissue necrosis area was larger. At 7 days after surgery, with the extensive formation of connective tissue proliferation and new blood capil aries, the wound gradual y shaping completely. (3) Results indicated that a rabbit model of oral soft tissue defects was successful y established, which was in line with the physical laws of wound healing and the characteristics of human oral soft tissue defects healing.

Objective To study the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the 40/60 premixed recombinant human insulin injection preparation,and to compare with 30/70 preparation,regular insulin,and neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH).Methods In this positive control,single dose,open label,Latin square crossover study,20 male healthy volunteers were recruited from May 2006 to March 2007,and divided into four groups.On 4 test days,40/60 preparation,30/70 preparation,regular insulin,and NPH were administered to each of the 4 groups,the interval was 7-70 days before 2 test days.The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were evaluated by euglycemic glucose clamp technique.Results According to the analysis of variance,there were statistically significant differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the 4 insulin formulations between the 4 groups (all P ＜ 0.05).For the 40/60 premixed recombinant human insulin,the pharmacokinetic parameter time to peak (Tmax) and mean retention time (MRT) were (105.00 ±24.33) minutes and (321.77 ± 56.29) minutes,respectively;the glucose-lowering effects reflected by the pharmacodynamic parameter Tmax and MRT were (167.75 ± 26.48) minutes and (248.33 ± 14.96) minutes,respectively.Compared with 30/70 premixed recombinant human insulin,40/60 preparation showed no significant differences in the pharmacokinetics parameters of blood insulin concentration,including peak concentration [(91.67 ± 13.03) mU/L vs.(84.96 ± 14.75) mU/L,P =0.119],Tmax [(105.00 ± 24.33) minutes vs.(122.25 ± 39.35) minutes,P =0.128],MRT [(321.77 ± 56.29) minutes vs.(332.12 ± 49.20) minutes,P =0.645] and area under the curve in 0-16 hours [AUCIns 0-16,(24 918 ± 6 610)h · mU/L vs.(26 768 ± 8 032)h· mU/L,P=0.084];however,statistically significant differences were observed in AUCIns0-4 [(16 991 ± 3 673) h · mU/L vs.(12 407 ± 3 441) h · mU/L,P =0.042] and AUCIns 0-8 [(23 283 ± 4 939) h · mU/L vs.(19 397 ±5 314)h · mU/L,P =0.046].Pharmacodynamic parameters showed no statistically significant differences (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared with 30/70 premixed insulin,the relative bioavailability of 40/60 premixed insulin was (118.9 ± 35.9) ％,and the relative biological effectiveness was (106.6 ± 35.2) ％.There was no clinically significant abnormalities in the safety indexes before and after the tests.No hypoglycemic events,allergic reactions,or local injection adverse reaction occurred in this trial.Conclusions The 40/60 premixed recombinant human insulin preparation demonstrated different properties in insulin absorption in 8 hours after injection compared with the 30/70 preparation,mainly because of the difference in proportions of short-and intermediate-acting insulin in the mixture.This new premixed insulin may provide a new option for personalized diabetes management.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have found that platelet-rich fibrin has a good ability to induce gingival soft tissue repair and regeneration.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of platelet-rich fibrinversus colagen membrane on gingival soft tissue healing, and to evaluate the ability of platelet-rich fibrin to repair gingival defects.
METHODS:Twenty-two patients (2 premolar teeth and 20 molars) scheduled for premolar or molar removal or ridge preservation due to various reasons were selected and randomized into two groups. Bio-Oss was implanted into the extraction socket folowed by covering with platelet-rich fibrin or colagen membrane. Healing time and healing rate of gingival defects were detected to evaluate the ability of platelet-rich fibrin to promote gingival tissue healing at 1-2 weeks after Bio-Oss implantation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The healing time was (12.17±2.25) days in the platelet-rich fibrin group and (17.30±2.58) days in the colagen group. The healing rate of the platelet-rich fibrin group was notably higher than that in the colagen membrane group at 1 and 2 weeks after Bio-Oss implantation. These findings indicate that platelet-rich fibrin is better than colagen membrane to improve the healing of gingival soft tissues with a shorter healing time.