OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention of baicalin on signal transduction and activating transcription factor expression of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

METHODSRecruited were UC patients at Outpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Inpatient Department of Digestive Disease, Center for Digestive Endoscopy of College City Branch, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Southern Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from June 2010 to January 2011. They were assigned to the UC group (33 cases) and the diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) group (30 cases). Another 30 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were taken from UC patients. IL23R gene expressions in vitro intervened by different concentrations baicalin were detected using Q-PCR. Expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) , STAT6, phosphorylated-STAT4 (p-STAT4), and p-STAT6 were detected using Western blot. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Effects of different concentrations baicalin on expressions of PBMCs, and levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 of UC patients were also detected.

RESULTSCompared with the negative control group, 40 µmol baicalin obviously decreased IL23R gene expression of UC patients (P <0. 01). Compared with the healthy control group and the IBS-D group, p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios increased, p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios decreased, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 all increased in the US group (all P <0. 05). Compared with the negative control, 5 and 10 µmol baicalin groups, 20 and 40 moL baicalin obviously decreased p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously increased p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios (all P <0. 05); 20 and 40 µmoL baicalin obviously lowered levels of IFN-γ and IL-4, and elevated IL-10 levels (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSION40 µmoL baicalin could in vitro inhibit p-STAT4/STAT4 ratios, adjust p-STAT6/STAT6 ratios and related cytokines, thereby balancing the immunity and relieving inflammatory reactions of UC.

Activating Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phosphorylation ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of the different compatibility ratios of rutin with quercetin on the pharmacoki-netics of rutin in rats in vivo. METHODS:30 rats were randomly divided into rutin group(rutin-quercetin molar ratio of 4:0,the same below),quercetin group(rutin-quercetin ratio of 0:4),BL1 group(rutin-quercetin ratio of 3:1),BL2 group(rutin-quercetin ratio of 2:2)and BL3 group(rutin-quercetin ratio of 1:3),6 rats in each group,all group was administrated 10 mg/kg(calculat-ed by quercetin core of rutin and quercetin) intragastrically. The blood sample 0.3 mL was respectively taken from tail vein after 0.25,0.5,0.75,1,1.5,2,3,4,6,8,10,12,16,20,24 h of administration,the plasma concentration of quercetin(rutin me-tabolite) was determined by HPLC. DAS 2.0 software was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS:The AUC0-24 h in rutin group,quercetin group,BL1 group,BL2 group and BL3 group were (4.908 ± 0.877),(8.382 ± 3.671), (8.473 ± 0.709),(4.366 ± 2.297),(8.914 ± 2.642)μg·h/L;MRT0-24 h were (9.675 ± 1.359),(3.142 ± 0.489),(3.517 ± 1.128), (3.376 ± 1.046),(4.494 ± 1.653) h;tmax were (5.726 ± 5.645),(1.375 ± 0.703),(1.125 ± 1.438),(1.417 ± 2.300),(1.292 ± 0.954) h;and cmax were (0.609 ± 0.202),(2.341 ± 0.539),(2.425 ± 1.217),(1.464 ± 0.677),(3.325 ± 2.425)μg/L. Compared with rutin group,AUC0-24 h and cmax in quercetin group,BL1 group and BL3 group were significantly increased(P<0.05),tmax and MRT0-24 h were significantly decreased(P<0.05);cmax in BL2 group was significantly increased(P<0.05),tmax and MRT0-24 h were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Compared with quercetin group,except AUC0-24 h was significantly decreased in BL2 group(P<0.05),there were no significant differences in AUC0-24 h,MRT0-24 h,tmax or cmax in BL1 group,BL2 group and BL3 group(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Quercetin can inhance the related indexes of rutin in rats in vivo.

Objective To observe the effects of tissue factor pathway inhibitor(TFPI) on thrombosis formation in rabbit carotid arteries after ballon injury. Methods Fouty rabbits with the weight 2.5-3.0 kg were respectively divided into 4 groups, Ad-TFPI, Ad-LacZ, PBS and normal control groups. The normal control group was not given any treatment and other 3 groups were given 0.2 ml Ad-TFPI, Ad-LacZ or PBS reproduced by the Dispatch catheter respectively after the PTCA balloon iniury on the right carotid arteries. Ten days after gene transfer the repeated balloon injury was performed in the 3 groups, and the first balloon injury was performed in the normal control group by the same method. The carotid blood flow was recovered immediately after the injury. Thirty minutes later all the animals were sacrificed. The injured carotid arteries and one part of contralateral normal artery were cut down, scissored along the long axis, flattened and fixed in the 2% glutaral. The platelet aggregation and thrombosis formation on the luminal surfaces was observed under electron microscope. Results The electron microscope results showed that the vascular endothelial cell structure was integrated and lined up in order in the nomal artery which had no any injury. After the balloon injury in the normal control group, the structure of the endothelial cell was disintegrated, and there was some platelet aggregation but no fibrosis formation. A large amount of platelet aggregated but no fibrosis formed in Ad-TFPI group after the repeated balloon injury. A large amount of fibrosis formed and red cells piled up in the Ad-LacZ and PBS group. The positive rate of thrombosis formation among groups had siginificant differences(χ2=14.95, P<0.01). The positive rate in Ad-TFPI group(20%) was lower than that in Ad-LacZ group(80%, χ2=7.20, P<0.01) and PBS group(70%, χ2=5.05, P<0.05), but was higher than that in the normal control group(10%, χ2=0.39, P>0.05). The positive rate in Ad-LacZ group(80%) was higher than in the normal control group(10%, χ2=9.90, P<0.01) and in the PBS group(70%, χ2=0.27, P> 0.05). The positive rate in PBS group(70%) was higher than that in the normal control group(10%, χ2=7.50, P< 0.01). Conclusions The repeated balloon injury method can cause a large amount of fibrosis formation in the rabbit carotid. TFPI gene inhibits thrombosis formation in balloon-injured rabbit carotid arteries.

The concentrations of berberine (BBR) and 8-cetylberberine (8-BBR-C16) in rat plasma and tissue were determined by RP-HPLC. Both the plasma pharmacokinetics characteristic and tissue distribution differences of BBR and 8-BBR-C16 were compared to provide experimental data for the mechanism research and further drug development. After the oral administrations of BBR and 8-BBR-C16 at the dose of 80 mg x kg(-1) for rats, the pharmacokinetics result showed that compared with BBR, the C(max) and AUC(0-t), of 8-BBR-C16 increased by 2.8 times and 12.9 times respectively, t1/2 extended from 3.61 h to 11.90 h. The tissue distribution result showed that compared with BBR, the concentration of 8-BBR-C16 in various organizations increased and the retention time extended remarkably. The maximum concentration was achieved in lung and the highest concentration in it was 3 731.82 ng x g(-1). After being derived, the C(max) in plasma and bioavailability of 8-BBR-C16 increased remarkably and the circulation time in vivo extended. The drug concentration in tissue increased remarkably, and the distribution ratio changed too, with strong targeting selection in lung.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Rats ; Tissue Distribution

The expression of Attractin mRNA and protein in testis and semen of human and male mice was investigated. Human testis and semen samples were all collected from Reproductive Center of Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University in December, 2012. Testis samples were collected from 7 cases of obstructive azoospermias when they were subjected to diagnosed testis biopsy, and 30 normal human semen samples were obtained from those cases of semen analysis. Adult mice testis tissues were obtained from 10 2-month-old male BALB/c mice, and 60 male mice at different ages were classified into 10 groups (day 1, 5, 10, 15, 21, 28, 35, 42, 56, and 120 respectively, n=6 each). The expression of Attractin mRNA and protein in testis was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Human semen samples were centrifuged into sperm plasma (SP) and sperm extract (SE), and mice sperm samples were collected from the epididymis of 10 adult male BALB/c mice. Western blotting was used to determine the Attractin protein expression level. Attractin mRNA and protein were expressed in the testis of both patients with obstructive azoospermias and adult Bcl/B mice. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that no Attractin mRNA was detectable in day 1 male BALB/c mice group. The Attractin mRNA and protein levels were low on the day 10, and increased with age until day 56. On the day 120, the expression levels of Attractin were decreased. As for human semen samples, Attractin protein was expressed in both SP and SE, but didn't exist in samples from the epididymis of male BALB/c mice. It was suggested that Attractin acted as a novel active substance and was involved in male reproduction in both human and BALB/c mice, but it exerted a different expression profile in different mammal species.

Objective To establish thyrotropin( TSH) and thyroid hormones reference ranges during the neonatal period for the healthy term newborns in Suqian. Methods Blood samples from a heel-prick were collected from 500 healthy newborns 72 hours after birth to determine the level of TSH. 200 healthy newborns were chosen to determine the levels of serum TSH and thyroid hormones on the 14th day of life, and then compared with the results from 120 healthy adults. Results The reference range of TSH at 72 hours after birth was 0. 46-6. 59 mIU/ L. The reference ranges of TT3 , TT4 , TSH, FT3 , FT4 on the 14th day of life were 1. 10-2. 62 nmol/ L, 81. 10-158. 28 nmol/ L, 0. 83-6. 39 mIU/ L, 3. 76-6. 66 pmol/ L, and 10. 67-22. 27 pmol/ L, respectively. There was no significant difference in the interval of TSH between newborns and adluts, whereas there were significant difference in the intervals of TT3 , TT4 , FT3 , and FT4 between the two groups. Conclusions The establishment of TSH and thyroid hormone reference ranges during the neonatal period for the healthy term newborns could improve our understanding of the thyroid function during the neonatal period for the healthy term newborns, and our data suggests lowing the initiatory screening cut-off point of congential hypothyroidism.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between regional blood perfusion and biological features of breast cancer. Methods Spiral CT technique was applied to quantitatively detect the central and marginal blood perfusion, including blood flow ( BF ) , blood volume ( BV) and permeability of surface (PS). Results The central and marginal blood perfusion of breast cancer were significantly higher than that of normal breast tissues. The marginal blood perfusion was higher than central blood perfusion. The regional blood perfusion of breast cancer varied with tumor size, clinical stage and histological grading. Conclusion The regional blood perfusion correlates with biological markers in breast cancer and can be used to evaluate the biological characteristics as a noninvasive marker before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective To establish the animal model for the study of children with moderate blood lead levels in young rabbits,for the study of the ideal therapy for moderate lead poisoning in children.Methods Sixteen 45-day-old male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control and lead-exposed group,8 in each group.Rabbits in the lead-exposed group were treated with 5 mg/(kg?d)lead acetate in their forage for 6 weeks to establish moderate lead poisoning animal model.The blood lead levels(BLLs)were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer(AAS),and the urine lead levels and the lead concentrations of tissue and organ were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Histopathology in tissue and organ was observed under the light microscope.Results The BLLs and the urine lead levels in lead-exposed group step up rapidly in primal weeks,then retained at a steady levels.The BLLs exhibited moderate level BLLs during the lead exposure period.Compared with control group,the body weight gain,testis and hippocampus wet coefficient of the lead-exposed group significantly decreased(P_a

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this article is to summarize the development of evaluation and treatment of posterior malleolus fracture (PMF).

DATA SOURCESData used in this review were mainly from English literature of PubMed data base. Study selection Articles were included in this review if they were related to the PMF or trimalleolar fracture.

RESULTSNo consensus was found regarding what sizes of posterior malleolus fragments would lead to ankle instability thus affecting prognosis and should be fixed. X-ray measurement is unreliable, while CT scan is widely recommended and it can recognize the occult posterior malleolus fractures associated with tibia shaft fractures, which are always undetected previously. Direct posterior malleolus fixation is suitable to stabilize syndesmotic injury. The basic and clinical researches support direct reduction and buttress plate fixation of posterior malleolus fracture through the posterolateral approach. Operative indications and timing of weight bearing are still in discussion.

CONCLUSIONSKnowing whether ankle instability occurs and the proper methods to diagnose, evaluate, and operate can help manage the fracture. Further biomechanical research on ankle stability and clinical study to compare various treatment methods are required.

Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery