Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Phytoestrogens ; Plant Preparations ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of Yanggan Lidan Granules (YGLDG) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage in mice and to find out its mechanism. METHODS: A model of chronic liver damage was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4). After three weeks, those model mice were treated with low-, medium-, high-dose YGLDG, Danning Tablets and bifendate respectively for four weeks. Then the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues were detected. RESULTS: YGLDG could significantly reduce the levels of serum ALT and AST in model mice, and the content of MDA was obviously decreased while the content of SOD was increased in liver tissue. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of YGLDG on mice with CCl(4)-induced liver damage is to relieve the seriousness of liver damage, and its mechanism may relate to reducing peroxidation activity in liver tissue.

Objective To reconstruct skin defects with local flaps after resection of tumors. Methods From October 2006 to December 2009, medial canthal defects in 15 patients were repaired with local flaps in the hospital. The size of the defects varied from 1 cm × 1 cm to 1.8 cm × 2.0 cm. According to the size and location of the defects, different local flaps such as glabellar flaps ,rotation flaps, advancement flaps, nasolabial flaps and combination of these local flaps were selected and designed to repair the skin defects. Results Of the 15 patients, 12 received the reconstruction of skin defects with single flap, the other 3 with two flaps; totally,18 local flaps were designed and applied. All the flaps survived with primary healing postoperatively. A followup in 11 patients for 6 to 12 months showed that the color and texture of flaps were similar to those of surrounding tissues and incision line scar was inconspicuous. Medial canthal contours were restored without distortion of surrounding structures. Satisfactory function and aesthetic outcomes were achieved. Conclusions In the repair of inner canthus skin defects, to maintain and restore the "cosmetic unit" integrity of inner canthus by using suitable local flaps would lead to a satisfying restoration of function and appearance.

OBJECTIVETo discuss operative methods and effects for Müller-Weiss disease.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to May 2011, 15 patients were operated. There were 2 males and 13 females, with an average age of 51.8 years (range, 26 to 62 years). The preoperative American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score was (42 ± 13) points. According to the Maceira Staging system, 1 foot was grade 2, 6 feet were grade 3, 4 feet were grade 4, and 4 feet were grade 5. The technique consisted of arthrodesis of the talonaviculocuneiform joints with plate, arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint and arthrorisis of naviculocuneiform joint with plate, or triple arthrodesis with screws, according to the preoperative evaluation.

RESULTSTen feet were treated with arthrodesis of the talonaviculocuneiform joints, 3 feet were treated with arthrodesis of the talonavicular joint and arthrorisis of naviculocuneiform joint and 2 feet were treated with triple arthrodesis. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The average follow-up after operation was 19.2 months (range, 9 to 38 months). All feet were solid fusion and the average duration of union was 13.3 weeks (range, 12-16 weeks). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score at the last follow-up was (83 ± 6) points. Two feet were excellent, 10 feet were good, and 1 foot was fair. The length of feet was (14.2 ± 1.0) cm before surgery and (15.7 ± 0.9) cm at the last follow-up (t = 11.570, P < 0.05). The Meary's angle was -6.1° ± 13.1°before surgery and 1.1° ± 3.0° at the last follow-up (t = 2.248, P < 0.05). The talocalcaneal angle was 4.5° ± 2.2° before surgery and 18.0° ± 4.0° at the last follow-up (t = 11.700, P < 0.05). One foot had breakage of the plate and screws at arthrorisis of naviculocuneiform joint and none had complications related to the incision.

CONCLUSIONOperations for Müller-Weiss disease, according to concrete conditions using different therapeutic program, may achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Adult ; Arthrodesis ; methods ; Bone Nails ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scaphoid Bone ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms of effective ingredients of Astragalus-Salvia compound (ASC) in increasing placental blood supply, to provide thought for establishing an effective prevention and treatment of insufficient placental blood supply caused complications of pregnancy.

METHODSThe effective ingredients of ASC was isolated and abstracted and the rat model of inhibited nitric oxide synthesis was established by using L-Arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in placental trophocyte and primordial micrangial endothelial cell was determined by using in situ hybridization at 12th day of pregnancy.

RESULTSThe VEGF mRNA expression was significantly lower in nitric oxide synthesis inhibited model rats than that in rats non-modeled, or in model rats treated by ASC abstracts or nitroglycerin (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEffective ingredients of ASC may improve VEGF mRNA expression in placental trophocyte and vascular endothelial cell in early pregnancy, and thus be favorable for placental vascular net formation, trophocyte infiltration and mother-placental circulation constitution for increasing placental blood supply to prevent and treat the insufficient placental blood supply caused diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Placenta ; cytology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Trophoblasts ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The fine structure of enoxaparin sodium samples with different degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives were analyzed with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A further study of anticoagulation activity of enoxaparins was performed, including those on their inhibition activities of coagulation factor Xa (FXa) and thrombin (FIIa). The results showed that the anti-FXa and -FIIa activities of enoxaparins with different degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives (20.0%-39.7%) with similar structure characteristics, had decreasing tendency when the degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives increased. Especially, the anti-FXa activity was sensitive to the change of the degree of 1,6-anhydro derivatives.
Anticoagulants ; chemistry ; Enoxaparin ; chemistry ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; chemistry ; Thrombin ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of alpha5beta1 integrin in the abnormal scars and its role and significance in the formation and development of abnormal scars.

METHODSThe expression of alpha5beta1 integrin was observed in hypertrophic scar (15 samples), keloid (15 samples) and normal skin (10 samples) with SP immunohistochemical method and colloidal gold immuno-electron microscopic technique. The data were semi-quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression levels of alpha5beta1 integrin in the fibroblasts of keloids and hypertrophic scars were higher than normal skin; the expression of alpha5beta1 integrin in the fibroblasts of keloids was higher than hypertrophic scars (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe alpha5beta1 integrin appears to have close relation to the formation and development of abnormal scars. To find a way to decrease the expression level of alpha5beta1 integrin in fibroblasts may be a new approach to inhibit scar hypertrophy.

Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin alpha5beta1 ; analysis ; metabolism ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Skin ; chemistry ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Objectives To clarify the basic data such as prevalent range,regiohal characteristics and the population at risk of drinking brick-tea type fluorosis in China.Methods Comprehensive survey for basic information was conducted in the provinces and autonomous regions where drinking brick-tea type fluorosis Wag prevalent,ineluding Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province,Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province,Gansu Province,Ningxia Autonomous Region and Yunan Province.The survey included the number ot counties(cifies)and townships(towns)where the people were accustomed to drinking brick-tea,pepulation,ethnic minority composition,the production and living style,sales and the kinds of brick-tea aIn so on.Results Two hundred and forty-one counties and 3246 townships were found to haye the habit 0f drinking brick-tea,among which 87.46%(2839/3246)had the habit for more than 30 years.There were 31 684 administrative vilages(residents' committees),15 047 elementary schools and 2873 temples surveyed,coveting a total population of 31 052 398 and 122 739 monks.Fifty-three ethnic minorities were involved.Han accounted for 44.86%(12 902 710/31 052 398), Uighur ethnic for 20.98%(7 416 474/31 052 398),Tibetan ethnic for 13.34%(4 323 272/31 052 398),Muslim ethnicfor 8.15%(2 767 603/31 052 398),Mongolian ethnic for 4.61%(1 400 206/31 052 398),Kazak ethnicfor 3.45% (1 218 272/31 052 398),of the population of drinking brick-tea,farmer population accounted for 64.13%(19 912 833/ 31 052 398),herdsman population for 8.79%(2 728 418/31 052 398),farmer-herdsman population for 12.53%(3 889 678/ 31 052 398)and town population for 14.56%(4 521 169/31 052 398).There Was 3926.74 tons of brick-tea sold per year in the investigated regions,mainly of Fu brick-tea,Green brick-tea and Black brick-tea.Areas with high brick- tea consumption distributed mainly in farmer region and farmer-herdsman region.Annual per capita consumption of brick-tea for farmers was 3.77 kg,and for farmer-herdsman population was 2.05 kg.Conclusions Begions with the habit of drinking brick-tea distributes extensively in western China and cover a huge population,and the herdsmen and farmer-herdsman are the main risk population.Drinking brick-tea type fluorosis is a seriolls public health issue in western China.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the modulation effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) implantation on the myofibroblasts congregating in the infarct region after myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSMI was induced in SD rats by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, and the experimental animals were assigned randomly into the sham group, MI + PBS group and MI + MSC group (myocardial injection of 0.1 ml 2×10(7)/ml in four locations in the infarct region). Echocardiography, hemodynamic examinations and Masson trichrome staining were performed. Implanted MSC differentiation and myofibroblasts congregating in infarct region were investigated by immunofluorescence staining. TGF-β(1)-Smad2 signaling pathway was examined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Four weeks late, heart-weight/body-weight ratio [(3.04 ± 0.16) mg/g vs. (3.34 ± 0.14) mg/g, P < 0.01] and myocardial infarction size [(38.72 ± 2.38)% vs. (46.36 ± 2.81)%, P < 0.01] were significantly reduced in MI + MSC group than in MI + PBS group, while scar thickness of infarct region was thicker [(0.93 ± 0.17) mm vs. (0.65 ± 0.16) mm, P = 0.01], and LVEF was higher [LVEF: (32.5 ± 5.9)% vs. (26.5 ± 4.5)%, P = 0.03] in MI + MSC group than in MI + PBS group. (2) Myofibroblasts congregating in the infarct region was significantly enhanced in MI + MSC group compared with MI + PBS group [(196 ± 20) cells/mm(2) vs. (89 ± 25) cells/mm(2), P < 0.01], and part of implanted MSC expressed α-SMA(+). (3) TGF-β(1) expression and the phosphorylating of Smad2 in the infarct region were significantly upregulated in MI + MSC group compared with MI + PBS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMSC could improve myocardial function and promote myofibroblasts congregating in the infarct region via activating the TGF-β(1)-Smad2 signaling pathway in this model.

Animals ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ventricular Remodeling

Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; complications ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; etiology