Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To study the effects of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) on hypermetabolism of skeletal muscle protein in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and explore the mechanisms. Methods Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,COPD group and COPD +TNF-? group(n=15).Rat COPD models were established by passive cigarette smoking in COPD group and COPD +TNF-? group.After dissecting and isolating the extensor digitorium longus(EDL) muscles,the EDL muscles were either cultured with media containing 10 ug/L recombinant rat TNF-? or without TNF-?.The subsequent changes in ubiquitin mRNA and protein levels were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot,respectively. Results The expressions of ubiquitin mRNA and protein of COPD group and COPD+TNF-? group were higher than those of normal contro1 group(P

Wip1 is a nuclear protein and a member of serine/threonine specific protein phosphatase type 2C(PP2C)family.It was initially identified as a gene whose expression was induced in response to ? or UV radiation in a p53-dependent manner and a negative feedback regulation of p38MAPK-p53 signaling.Then,Wip1 gene was confirmed a proto-oncogene and amplified or overexpressed in several human tumor types.This review will introduce the structures and functions of Wip1 and details on the signaling process of cancer progression.

To study the impact of five different origin processing methods, namely natural drying, drying in baking shop, drying by microwave heating, drying in drum and drying with sulphur fumigation, on the quality of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base in Jiangsu Province, with the contents of chlorogenic acid and galuteolin and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints as the evaluation indicators. The results showed that different origin processing methods had significant impact on the content of chlorogenic acid and the similarity in HPLC fingerprints, but with no significant difference on the content of galuteolin. By means of drying by microwave heating and drying in drum, the samples showed higher contents of chlorogenic acid, respectively 3.67% and 3.39%. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.815 and 0.793, respectively. By means of the drying in baking shop and the drying with sulphur fumigation, the contents of chlorogenic acid in the samples were 2. 87% and 2. 53% , respectively. The similarities of HPLC fingerprints were 0.964 and 0.765, respectively. The lowest content of chlorogenic acid in naturally dried samples was 1.92%. The similarity of HPLC fingerprints was 0.940. According to the findings as well as the internal control standards for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos herbs of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. , Ltd. , the optimum processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base was the drying in baking shop. This study provided a theoretical basis for determining the processing method for Lonicerae Japonicae Flos from Donghai cultivation base of Jiangsu Province.
China ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were induced into a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype utilizing simulated microgravity in vitro in order to establish a new cell-based tissue engineering treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration. For induction of a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype, MSCs were cultured in simulated microgravity in a chemically defined medium supplemented with 0 (experimental group) and 10 ng/mL (positive control group) of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). MSCs cultured under conventional condition without TGF-β1 served as blank control group. On the day 3 of culture, cellular proliferation was determined by WST-8 assay. Differentiation markers were evaluated by histology and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). TGF-β1 slightly promoted the proliferation of MSCs. The collagen and proteoglycans were detected in both groups after culture for 7 days. The accumulation of proteoglycans was markedly increased. The RT-PCR revealed that the gene expression of Sox-9, aggrecan and type II collagen, which were chondrocyte specific, was increased in MSCs cultured under simulated microgravity for 3 days. The ratio of proteoglycans/collagen in blank control group was 3.4-fold higher than positive control group, which denoted a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype differentiation. Independent, spontaneous differentiation of MSCs towards a nucleus pulposus-like phenotype in simulated microgravity occurred without addition of any external bioactive stimulators, namely factors from TGF-β family, which were previously considered necessary.

Objective The levels of Thl cytokines(IL-10 and IL-13)and Th2 cytokines(INF-? and TNF-?)were determined in the sera of patients with Schistosomiasis japonica in order to find the relationship between cytokines and severe hepatic fibrosis(HF)in schistosomiasis.Methods A total of 358 patients with advanced Schistosomiasis japonica were examined by ultrasound.68 HBsAg negative patients were chosen randomly as experimental control.Among them,39 patients were found to have mild HF and 29 were severe HF.The sera levels of Thl and Th2 cytokines were determined with ELISA.Results Among these 358 patients,83(23.2%)were HBsAg positive.Neither earlier nor severer hepatic fibrosis was noted in the patients who had been simultaneously infected with HBV than those only infected with schistosomiasis. There was a significant difference between mild[ 1.60(1.30-12.14)ng/L]and severe[ 4.20(1.43- 52.07)ng/L]HF patients in the level of IL-10(Z=-3.907,P0.05)was found in level of IFN-?,between severe[3.12(1.38-66.14)ng/L]and mild[5.87(1.33-216.33)ng/ L]HF subjects.Our observation did not reveal any obvious difference of TNF-? between severe[ 2.48(0.79 -19.86)ng/L]and mild[ 2.28(0.67-15.72)ng/L]HF groups.Conclusions Patients infected with advanced shistosomiasis may become more susceptible to HBV.The results of the present investigation showed that a high level production of IL-13 was associated with severe HF.

Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Tyrosinemias ; diagnosis ; therapy

To know the characteristics of Shuxuening injection used on cerebral infarction patients in clinical practice, 6 053 cases of Hospital information system (HIS) data from 20 hospitals were analyzed. Using the basic description method and association rules to analysis the data. By analysis the data we found that the average age of cerebral infarction patients who used Shuxuening injection is 67.96, 83.94% of patients were aged 46-80. The injection is administered intravenously,with most patients receiving a dosage of 15-20 mL per dose for between 1 and 14 days. It is always combined with aspirin (48.508%), cinepazide maleate injection (22.073%), atorvastatin calcium tablets (18.873%) in clinical practice. When it comes to two drug combinations, it always combined with cinepazide maleate injection and aspirin (8.178%), nicergoline capsules and aspirin (7.63%). Therefore, based on existing data, we give the conclusion that for the treatment of cerebral infarction Shuxuening injection is mainly used for older patients, and is often combination with similar pharmacological effects chemical drugs, which is complied with the guidelines. However, the wrong dose is still exist, doctors should realize the hiding risk.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Objective To detect the expressions of Lingo-1 and myelin associated protein in the white matter and hippocampus of ovariectomized rats after short-term estrogen replacement therapy in order to explore the possible mechanisms for the effects of estrogen on the brain myelin sheaths and cognitive function.Methods 24 middleaged (9-12 months) female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and randomly divided into vehicle replacement (OVX+Veh) group and estrogen replacement (OVX+E) group.After one month ERT,The spatial learning and memory ability of all rats were assessed with Morris water maze.Then,10 rats were randomly selected from each group.The ultrastucture of myelin sheaths in the cerebral white matter and hippocampus were observed,and the protein expression of MBP and Lingo-1 were investigated with Western blot and immunohistochemical staining.Results The escape latencies of OVX+E rats in navigation test were significantly shorter than that of OVX+Veh rats(P＜0.05).The myelin sheaths in the white matter and hippocampus of OVX+Veh rats showed obviously degeneration.In the OVX+E group,the expression of MBP in the white matter and hippocampus was significantly higher than that of OVX+Veh group(P＜0.05),however,the expression of Lingo-1 was significantly lower than that of OVX +Veh group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions One-month ERT has significant beneficial effects on the spatial learning capacity and myelin sheaths in the white matter and hippocampus.The protective effects may be related to estrogen-induced downregulation of the Lingo-1 expression in the white matter and hippocampus of rats.

BACKGROUND: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) promotor region has a pair of dinucleotide(guanosine thymidine, GT) repeats with a lengthy polymorphism, also named microsatellite polymorphism. Experiments in vitro have shown that we can indirectly learn about the level of gene transcription by measuring the number of GT repeats.OBJECTIVE: To investigate if an association exists between restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) and microsatellite polymorphism in HO-1 gene promoter.DESIGN: A case-control study based on the observation of the patients with coronary heart disease after undergoing coronary stenting.SETTING: Wards of the department of cardiology of a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 118 patients were admitted from April 1996 to May 2002 at the Department of Cardiology of the First Hospital of Peking University who underwent successful coronary stenting. Inclusion criteria: The patients with coronary heart disease who underwent coronary stent implantation for more than 3 months now came to perform coronary angiography in follow-up. Exclusion criteria: Angiography showed that the stenosis of lumen in diameter in the patients with coronary heart disease was less than 50%and the follow-up in angiography was less than three months. There were 92males and 26 females aged(62±10) years old and the informed consents were obtained. The patients were divided into two groups according to the criteria stipulated by American Heart,Lung and Blood Association: in-stent restenosis(68 cases) and non-restenosis (50 cases).METHODS: DNA of the peripheral blood was isolated from the whole blood. The length of GT repeat was confirmed by PCR amplification and Spreadex Gel electrophoresis. Selected samples were sequenced with Sanger's method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Microsatellite gene frequency of HO-1promoter and its relationship with restenosis RESULTS: Patients with GT repeats <25 GT in the HO-1 gene promoter on either allele had significantly less often restenosis than patients without (47.5% vs. 68.4% ,P<0.05). After controlling some possible confound ing factorsfor coronary heart diseases, multivariate analysis indicated that still there was a significant difference between the two groups in restenosis rate(odd ratio 0. 418,95% CI: 0. 197 to 0. 887,P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that short(GT) n repeats of HO-1 gene promoter is associated with reduced post-PCI restenosis, which suggests the genetic contribution to in-stent restenosis after stent implantation. It may have important meanings to prevent the occurrence of restenosis.