AIM:To explore the effect of erythropoietin ( EPO) on the expression of myocardial NADPH oxi-dase (Nox) in the pressure overload rats.METHODS:Male SD rats (n=36) were used to establish a pressure overload myocardial hypertrophy model by abdominal aorta ligation.The animals were divided into model group, control group ( sham, without narrowing abdominal aorta, the rest of the operation was the same as the model) and recombinant human erythropoietin ( rhEPO) treatment group ( intraperitoneal injection of rhEPO postoperatively, 4 000 U/kg, twice a week) . After 8 weeks, the cardiac ultrasound imaging and hemodynamic evaluation were conducted to determine the cardiac func-tions.Masson staining was used to observe the degree of myocardial fibrosis.The expression of Nox2 and Nox4 at mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting.The protein levels of myocardial inflam-matory factors CD45, F4/80 and TGF-βwere determined by Western blotting.RESULTS:Compared with model group, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) and left ventricular pressure maximum rising and falling rates ( ±dp/dtmax) increased significantly in EPO treatment group (P<0.01).At the same time, left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ( LVEDD) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ( LVEDP) were decreased in EPO treatment group (P<0.01).EPO reduced the degree of myocardial fibrosis caused by pressure overload (P<0.01) and decreased the ex-pression of Nox2 and Nox4 at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and reduced the pro-tein expression of myocardial inflammatory factors CD45, F4/80 and TGF-β.CONCLUSION: EPO inhibits rat myocar-dial fibrosis induced by pressure overload, improves heart functions by decreasing NADPH oxidase activity and inhibiting myocardial oxidative stress levels and myocardial inflammatory reaction.

The main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV, calycosin separately glucoside, formononetin on oxidative stress in Chang Liver cells induced by H2O2. In the experiments, Chang Liver cells (a kind of normal human hepatocytes) were used as the research object, bifendate which has a clear hepatoprotective effect was used as the positive control drug, then the oxidative damage model of Chang Liver cells were established by H2O2. Cells were divided into six groups: blank control group, oxidative stress group, astragaloside IV group, calycosin separately glucoside group, formononetin group and positive control group. Then endogenous antioxidant system related indexes were detected by micro plate and colorimetric method; intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe; and the expressions of CYP2E1 were evaluated by liver microsomes, mRNA, and protein, respectively with spectrophotometry, Real-time PCR method, and Western blot technique. Results showed that H2O2 decreased antioxidant activity, and increased ROS level and expression of CYP2E1. The above oxidative stress status had been changed with protections of the three components of Astragalus membranaceus (compared with oxidative stress group, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), which taken as a whole had equivalent effects as the drug of positive control group( bifendate). Taken together, three Astragalus membranaceus ingredients all had significant or extremely significant inhibiting effects on oxidative damaged Chang Liver cells which were induced by H2O2, and the oxidative damage of Chang Liver cells had been relieved.
Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the influence of BK virus (BKV) activation in renal transplant recipients on the renal allograft function.Method Recipients receiving renal transplantation during 2010.3-2011.4 were sdected as objectives,the urine and peripheral blood samples of them were taken and real-time PCR assays were performed to detect BKV DNA at 0.5,1,3,6,9,and 12 months post-transplantation.Results Among 88 recipients,BKV viruria occurred in 27 (30.68％) patients,and sustained viruria occurred in 17 patients.37.0％ (10/27) of patients with BKV viruria developed inot BKV viremia,and sustained viremia occurred in 5 patients.The viral load in plasma was higher in patients with sustained viremia than in those with transient viremia (P＜0.05),and serum creatinine concentrations were higher when BK viremia occurred (P＜0.05).Conclusion Graft function was impaired among patients with BK viremia,and regularly monitoring BK virus in renal transplant recipients and clinical imervention based on plasma PCR results can prevent transplant kidney damage effectively.

The daily management of medical equipment in the shelter hospital of CAPF was explored, and some measures were put forward including completing administration, determining responsibilities, improving supervising system, creating management tools, strengthening application for military and civilian uses, enhancing professional awareness and etc. The problems were solved in the discrepancies between construction and management, application and maintenance as well as training and daily service, so that the equipment was improved in efficiency, service life, metrology and stability. References may be provided for the shelter hospital or other medical units of CAPF for daily management of medical devices.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of theaflavins on thymus injury caused by total body irradiation (TBI).Methods Twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:control group,4 Gy TBI group,4 Gy TBI + 25 mg/kg theaflavins group,4 Gy TBI + 50 mg/kg theaflavins group and 4 Gy TBI + 100 mg/kg theaflavins group.Thymus index and total number of thymocytes were detected at the 14th d post-irradiation to determine the optimal dose of theaflavins.According to this optimal dose,32 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group,theaflavins group,4 Gy TBI group and 4 Gy TBI + theaflavins group.Thymus histomorphology,CD4CD8 T cell subsets,and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in thymocytes were examined at the 14th d post-irradiation.Results The irradiated thymus exhibited decreased thymus index and total number of thymocytes (P ＜ 0.05),aberrant histomorphology and T cell subsets (P ＜ 0.05),and increased ROS level in thymocytes (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with 4 Gy TBI group,the thymus index and total number of thymocytes were significantly increased in 4 Gy TBI + 50 mg/kg theaflavins group (P ＜ 0.05).The total number of thymocytes was significantly higher in 4 Gy TBI + 50 mg/kg theaflavins group than that in 4 Gy TBI + 25 mg/kg theaflavins group (P ＜ 0.05).Therefore,50 mg/kg theaflavins was chosen as the optimal dose for subsequent experiments.Moreover,the aberrant histomorphology of irradiated thymus was alleviated by theaflavins.A decline in the percentage of CD4-CD8-T cells and an elevation of CD4+CD8-and CD4+CD8+ T cells were found in irradiated mice administered with theaflavins (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with 4 Gy TBI group,the ROS level was significantly decreased in 4 Gy TBI + theaflavins group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Theaflavins exhibits a protective effect on radiation-induced thymus injury.

Objective To explore the curative effect of knee flexion deformity on spastic cerebral palsy treatment method.Methods All of 30 patients with spastic cerebral and knee flexion deformity were randomly divided into two groups:traditional operation group and modified operation group,using the commonly used operation (In 15 cases,with traditional hamstring post surgery) and) modified operation (In 15 cases,with modified hamstring post surgery),two groups of patients were treated with Ilizarov external fixation drafting device in the correction of knee flexion deformity after soft tissue release.Adjustment began 7 days after the soft tissue release operation of external fixation,and stretched approximately 0.2 degrees each time,3 times/d,until knee flexion deformity was corrected to hyperextension for 10 degree and maintained for 3 weeks,and the flexion contracture degree of knee joint was measured every 2 weeks;then the Ilizarov external fixation drafting device was removed.Then wear a walking straight leg brace for more than 3 months,until the knee walking function is good.Clinical evaluation included the joint pain index,walking function index,knee flexion deformity degree and range of joint motion score of Dimeglio standard.Results Flexion contracture deformity of knee joint in 30 cases (60 knees) was corrected when Ilizarov external fixator was removed,knee extension to 0 degrees-5 degrees.The two groups of patients had the knee flexion angle range of-1.2 degrees to 13.3 degrees,with an average of (7.32°±3.41°) after removed of the walking straight leg brace,in which 4 cases (8 joints) got recurrent deformity of 10°-15° at the time of removing of the walking straight leg brace.Knee activity significantly was improved at the end of treatment.60 cases of knee joint activity were close to normal,with flexion of 100 degrees to 135 degrees,extension of 0 degrees to 10 degrees.Two groups of patients were statistically significantly improved before and after surgery.Curative effect comparison:The walking function index of the modified operation group was obviously superior to that of the traditional operation group,there was significant statistical difference.There were no statistically significant differences in pain index,knee flexion,and range of joint motion.Conclusion For the treatment of flexion deformity of the knee joint in spastic cerebral palsy,traditional surgery using the semitendinosus and gracilis,post and semimembranosus lysis,combined with the Ilizarov draft external fixation could improve the walking function of the patients,simplify the surgical incision and reduce trauma.As a result,modified hamstring post surgery is an ideal,effective treatment method.

Objective:To determine whether chewing gum during the postoperative period facilitates the recovery of bowel function in patients after radical cystectomy with ileum urinary diversion.Methods:In the study,60 patients who underwent radical cystectomy followed by ileum urinary diversions during Nov.2014 and Nov.2015 in Department of Urology of Peking University First Hospital were randomized into three groups:gum chewing group,placebo group treated with the abdomen physical therapy machine and control group treated with ordinary method.Time to flatus,time to bowel movement,incidence of postoperative distension of the abdomen and abdominal pain,and gut related complications (such as ileus,intestinal fistula,and volrulus)of all the patients were recorded and analysed.Results:In gum chewing group,the median time to flatus was 57 hours (49 -72 hours),and the median time to bowel movement was 95 hours (88 -109 hours),which were significantly shortened compared with the other two groups of patients (82 hours,109 hours in placebo group and 81 hours,108 hours in control group, respectively).No significant difference of the median time to flatus and to bowel movement was observed between placebo group and control group.There were no significant differences in the incidence of post-operative distension of the abdomen and abdominal pain,and gut related complications among the three groups.Conclusion:Chewing gum had stimulatory effect on bowel function recovery after cystectomy fol-lowed by ileum urinary diversion.Chewing gum was safe and simple,and could be routinely used for postoperative treatment after cystectomy and ileum urinary diversion.

Objective To analyze MRI features of different cervical flexion positions in Hirayama disease (HD) and discuss the effects on these features by different cervical flexion angles.Methods The cervical MR images of neutral and different flexion positions (20°, 25°, 30°, 35° ,40°) of 20 patients, who were clinically diagnosed as HD,were studied.At flexion positions, the appearance of anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal and widening of epidural space was recorded.The maximum sagittal diameters (d) of widened cervical epidural space and the cervical canal sagittal diameters (D) on the same level were measured to calculate d/D value for quantitative evaluation of the two signs.Comparisons of appearance of the signs among different flexion positions were made using F/sher's exact test.Repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA) was used to compare mean d/D values among groups with different positions, and paired comparisons were also performed.Results The appearance of anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal were different between 20° group (70%, 14/20) and other 4 larger angles groups (100%) (χ2 =5.76, P=0.020).The d/D values were 0.51±0.06,0.54±0.08,0.57±0.09,0.61±0.09,0.59±0.07 respectively at abovementioned 5 flexion positions, which were different among groups( F = 3.450 ,P = 0.013 ).The value was greater at 35° than that at 20° and 25°( P <0.05 ), and it was also greater at 40° than that at 20° ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Cervical flexion angle has an effect on anterior shifting of the posterior wall of the cervical dural canal and widening of epidural space.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of astragaloside IV on oxidative damages of Chang Liver cells induced by ethanol and H2O2.

METHODThe alcoholic and nonalcoholic oxidative damage models were established on Chang Liver cells with ethanol and H2O2, respectively. The cells viabilities were detected by MTT assay, transaminase activity and antioxidant ability were detected by micro plate and colorimetric method, reactive oxide species (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. DNA ladder method was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTBoth kinds of oxidative damage could decrease the viability and antioxidant enzyme activity of Chang Liver cells, and increase the transaminase activity and MDA content of extracellular fluid. The protective effects of astragaloside IV against those two kinds of oxidative damages were significant or extremely significant. Meanwhile, ethanol could decline the level of ROS significantly in the damaged cells, while H2O2 could increase it significantly. And the effect of astragaloside IV was to make ROS return to the normal level. Retardation of cell cycle progression of Chang Liver cells in G0/G1 induced by ethanol or H2O2 was relieved, and apoptosis was also inhibited.

CONCLUSIONAstragaloside IV had protective effect on oxidative damages of Chang Liver cells induced by ethanol and H2O2.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the effects of rigorous surveillance and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in the treatment of low-risk patients with clinical stage Ⅰ nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (NSGCT) after radical orchiectomy.Methods The data of 71 patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT were analyzed retrospectively in Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital,Xiangya Third Hospital of Central South University and Hunan Provincial People's Hospital between Feb,2001 and Apr,2012.Excluding lymphatic and vascular invasion,percentage of embryonal carcinoma＞50％ and increasing tumour markers (AFP/β-HCG) following orchiectomy,46 low-risk patients out of 71 patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT were selected and divided into rigorous surveillance group (30 cases) and RPLND group (16 cases) according to different therapeutic methods after radical orchiectomy.Univariate analysis was used to confirm variables associated with disease progression,and the disease free survival rates (DFSR) were compared by using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results Five cases were lost,and 41 cases were followed up for an average of 61 months (range,15-147 months),with 58 months in rigorous surveillance group (range,19-147months) and 65 months in RPLND group (range,15-144 months).The survival rate was 100％ in 2 groups.The DFSR was 89％ (24/27) and 86％ (12/14),respectively,and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =0.08,P=0.78).The DFSR was 83％ in patients with small amout of embryonal (percentage of embryonal carcinoma ＜ 50％),and 92％ in patients without embryonal carcinoma,and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=1.07,P=0.30).Also there was no significant difference between the patients less than 15 years and patients more than 15 years (x2=1.59,P =0.21).Conclusions There is no significant difference in recurrence rate and DFSR between rigorous surveillance group and RPLND group.Low-risk patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT may achieve satisfactory prognosis with surveillance after radical orchiectomy.