OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone II(A) on the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system of left ventricles of renal hypertensive rats.

METHODThe renal hypertension model was established in rats by the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) method. In the experiment, all of the rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15 per group) before the operation: the sham-operated (Sham) group, the hypertensive model (Model) group, the low-dose tanshinone II(A) group and the high-dose tanshinone II(A) group. At 5 week after the renal artery narrowing, the third and fourth groups were administered with 35 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 70 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of tanshinone II(A), respectively. The blood pressure in rats was determined by the standard tail-cuff method in each week after the operation. After the drug treatment for 8 weeks, all the rats were put to death, and their left ventricles were separated to determine the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW), the myocardial collagen content, and the expressions of different components in myocardial RAS, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin 1-type receptor (AT1R), Mas receptor mRNA expression and angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] content.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the hypertensive model group exhibited a markable increase in the content of Ang II and Ang (1-7) and the mRNA expressions of ACE, ACE2, AT1R and Mas (P < 0.01). However, the treatment with tanshinone II(A) showed the does dependence, inhibited left ventricle hypertrophy, decreased myocardial Ang II content and the mRNA expression of ACE and AT, R in renal hypertensive rats (P < 0. 01) , further increased the myocardial Ang (1-7) content and the mRNA expression of ACE2 and Mas (P < 0.01) , but without any change in the blood pressure of hypertensive rats.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with tanshinone II(A) could inhibit left ventricle hypertrophy of renal hypertensive rats. Its mechanism may be partially related to the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system for regulating myocardial tissues.

Angiotensin I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; administration & dosage ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

The transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) was researched and developed based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) auricular acupuncture (AA),vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and anatomy.It is a typical representative of TCM modernization.Meanwhile,taVNS does not require surgery,with low cost,and has almost no side effects.Most importantly,it ensures a comparable efficiency as the classic VNS.The taVNS regulates the autonomic neural function as its core,opens up a new principle of peripheral nerve-brain network-body function,and has made breakthroughs in the treatment of epilepsy and depression.Other indications of taVNS contain disorders of consciousness (DOC),autism spectrum disorder (ASD),Alzheimer's disease (AD),and etc.The further improvement of taVNS technique will definitely benefit a wider range of patients.

Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Objective To investigate the effect of heparin on the apoptosis and proliferation of human myeloid leukemia cell line K562 induced by vincristine.Methods K562 cells were pretreated by heparin for 1h,then cultured with 0.05 mg/L vincristine in 37℃ 5% CO2 for 24 h.Apoptosis of KS62 cells was evaluated by Hoechst 33342 staining,flow cytometer and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis after culture for 24 hours.The effect of heparin on KS62 cell proliferation and toxicitv was determined by Trypan blue staining and MTT assay.Results In the apeptosis induced group,the apeptosis rate was 40.10% dected by Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining.The hepafin in different concentrations was found to be able to inhibit the apoptosis of K562 cells triggered by vincristine and the apoptosis rate was 32.47%,29.7%,25.5%,19.53% in the heparin groups of 25,50,100,200 U/ml,respectively.The apeptosis rate was significantly lower in the apeptosis induced group than in the heparin groups of 25,50,100,200 U/ml(P＜0.05).The typical DNA ladder could be found in the apoptosis-induced group,and the DNA ladder gradually disappeared along with the increase of heparin(5～200 U/ml).The sub-G1 peak of K562 cells could be found in the induced group by FACS and the apoptosis rate was 21.61%.In the heparin groups of 25,50,100,200 U/ml,the sub-G1 Peak of K562 cells gradually dropped and the apoptosis rate was 13.64%,11.75%,8.59%,6.03%(P＜0.05),respectively.After K562 cells were incubated with different hepafin concentrations(5～200 U/ml)for 24 hours,there was no difference compared with the normal control group in both the total live cell numbers and the cell proliferation rate measured by trypan blue staining and MTT assay(P＞0.05).Conclusion The results suggested that heparin had no influence on KS62 cell toxicity and proliferation,but may inhibit the apoptosis of KS62 cells induced by vincristine.

Objective To evaluate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on brain injury in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Forty-five patients with chronic valvular heart disease,aged 36-62 yr,weighing 42-92 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ,with New York Heart Association of Ⅱ or Ⅲ,undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =15 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),and different doses of rHuEPO groups (EPO1 group,EPO2 group).In EPO1 and EPO2 groups,rHuEPO 40 and 80 IU/kg were injected intravenously before anesthesia induction,respectively.Before anesthesia induction (T0,baseline value),immediately after endotracheal intubation (T1),immediately after aortic cannulation (T2),immediately after cannulation of superior and inferior vena cava (T3),immediately after the beginning of CPB (T4),when each index was decreased to the minimal value during CPB (T5),after rewarming to 36.5 ℃ (T6),immediately after termination of CPB (T7),and at 1 h after termination of CPB (T8),regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2),tissue hemoglobin index (THI),and changes in concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (△ O2Hb),deoxyhemoglobin (△ HHb) and total hemoglobin (△ cHb) in bilateral frontal lobes were recorded.The patients whose minimal rSO2 ≤ 50％ and decrease in minimal rSO2 ≥ 20％ of the baseline value (△rSO2) were recorded.At T0,T8 and 2 h after termination of CPB (T9),venous blood samples were taken for determination of serum concentrations of S100 protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) by ELISA.At 1 day before surgery and 8 days after surgery,the patient's cognitive function was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination,the Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R),the Digit Symbol subtest of the WAIS-R,the Trailing Making Test (Part A)and the Stroop Color Word Interference Test,while depression and anxiety were assessed by Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale,respectively.The occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction was recorded.Results There was no significant difference among the three groups in bilateral rSO2 and △ cHb,incidence of bilateral rSO2 ≤ 50％ and postoperative cognitive dysfunction,Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale score,and Zung Self-Rating anxiety Scale score at each time point (P＞0.05).Compared with group C,the incidence of left △ rSO2 ≥ 20％ was significantly decreased,the right △ O2 Hb was increased at T6,8,the serum NSE concentrations were decreased at T9,the serum S100 protein concentrations were decreased at T8,and the number of the Digit Symbol subtest of the WAIS-R completed was increased in group EPO1,and right THI was significantly decreased at T2,T3,T5,T7 and T8,right △ HHb was increased at T2 and T3,and the completion time of Stroop color word interference test B was shortened at 8 days after surgery in group EPO2 (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group EPO1,the incidence of left △rSO2 ≥ 20％ was significantly increased,the right THI was decreased at T2-4 and T6-8,and the left △ O2 Hb at T6-7 and right △ O2 Hb at T8 were decreased in group EPO2 (P＜0.05).Conclusion rHuEPO 40 IU/kg injected intravenously before induction of anesthesia can mitigate brain injury in the patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with CPB.

Objective To measure and conduct statistic analysis of normal eyes by Pentacam. Methods Two hundred and twenty-one healthy people (442 eyes) underwent examinations of Pentacam, and they were divided into 5 groups by age: <40 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 40-49 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 50-59 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes), 60-69 years old group (50 people, 100 eyes) and >70 years old group (21 people, 42 eyes). Results With the increase of age, there were significant differences in chamber volume, chamber angle and anterior chamber depth among age groups (P<0.05). In elder age groups, there were significant differences in these parameters between males and females (P<0.01). Conclusion Anterior segment parameters are significantly correlated with age. After 60 years old, the anterior segment parameters become significantly different with gender.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of different dose hepatitis B immunoglohulin(HBIG)on prevention of HBV intrauterine infection and HBV S gene mutation. Methods HBV carrier mothers were randomly divided into three groups.Eighty-one HBsAg carrier pregnant women were divided into HBIG A group.HBIG B group and control group.Each subject in the HBIG A group received 200 U or 400 U(for HBsAg and HBeAg double positive carrier)intra muscularly at 3,2,1 month before delivery.Each subject in the HBIG B group received 200 U intra muscularly at 3,2,1 month before delivery.The subjects in the control group did not receive any treatment.Maternal blood samples were taken before HBIG injection and at delivery.Neonatal blood samples of all newborn infants after birth were taken before immunopropbylaxis.Their sera were ob tained to test HBV markers by enzyme immunoassay(EIA)and HBV DNA by fluorescence quantita- tive polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR),then to amplify and sequence HBV S gene region.Results The rate of HBV intrauterine infection in the HBIG group(14.5%)was lower than that in the control group(35.7%)(X~2=4.896,P=0.027).The rate of HBV intrauterine infection of newborns from HBsAg and HBeAg double positive carrier mother in the HBIG A group(37.5%)were lower than control group(100.0%)(X~2=7.273,P=0.007),while the rate was no different in the HBIG B group(71.5%)and the control group(X~2=2.637,P=0.104).Maternal HBsAg titer and HBV DNA level were of no difference among three groups before HBIG injection.Maternal HBsAg titers and HBV DNA levels of the HBIG A group were lower than those of the HBIG B group and the con- trol group at delivery.Among the 26 neonatal serum samples in the HBIG A group,10(38.5%)were positive for anti-HBs,while in the HBIG B group and in the control group,no neonatal serum sam- ples was positive.There was no significant difference of nucleotide and amino acid changes in the S gene between the HBIG group and the control group.Conclusions HBV infection in the uterus may be interrupted by injection HBIG intramuscularly before delivery.More efficacy would be found using variable HBIG dose according to different HBV virema and must be once more again injected just he- fore one week of delivery;anti-HBs transported to the fetus via the placenta and it's may be the im- portant mechanism of HBIG prevention.Asymptomatic HBsAg carrier mother received injections of HBIG before delivery should not influence HBV S gene mutation.Gene mutation of HBV is not the main factor in intrauterine transmission of HBV.

Objective To understand human rhinovirus (HRV) etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in children in Shanghai area and establish a nested reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) assay.Methods Three hundred and forty-two naso- pharyngeal secretion (NPS) samples from ALRTI cases who were hospitalized were collected during January 2005—December 2005.Nested RT-PCR techniques were used to detect HRV-specific RNA.The PCR products were sequenced and data of nucleotides were analyzed.The proportion of HRV infection in children with ALRTI,the distribution of gender,age and season,and clinical char- acteristics were also investigated.Results Forty-six (13.5%) of 342 samples were HRV positive detected by nested RT-PCR.The sequences of 15 positive samples shared high homology of 83%- 97% with HRV sequence in GenBank.Within the 15 positive samples,nucleotide homology varied from 64.4% to 98.4%,and the ratio of genetic variation was from 1.6% to 48.3%./00.These 15 ampli- cons attribute to the two branches of HRV cladogram.The sequences of 15 amplieons were highly varied,in which single nucleotide mutation and several nearby nueleotides mutations were found. Ribonucleotide deletion and insertion in the nucleotide sequence was also found.HRV positive sam- ples were detected in 33 boys and 13 girls,respectively.The ratio of infection cases between boys and girls was 2.5:1.Of 46 HRV infected cases,27 (58.7%) were less than 12 months of age and 38 (82.6%) were less than 3 years old.HRV infected ALRTI occured all the year round and peaked from March to May.Of the patients whose NPS samples were HRV positive detected by nested RT-PCR,45 patients were diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and 1 was diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis.Fever of most patients was moderate.The peripheral blood leukocyte counts in thirty-nine (84.8%) patients were less than 10?10~9/L.Neutrophil percentages in thirty-seven (80.4%) patients were less than 0.50.C-reactive protein of thirty-six (78.3%) patients were less than 8 mg/L. All of these features were the characteristics of viral pneumonia.The complications were not common and conditions of most patients were not severe.All the children were cured.Conclusions This nes- ted RT-PCR technique is highly specific,rapid and convenient for the detection of HRV RNA in NPS of patients with ALRTI and the genome of HRV viruses is highly variable.The incidence of HRV infection predominates in children in Shanghai area.ALRTI of HRV is short of specificity and condi- tions of most patients are not severe and their prognoses are fine.