Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between copper and organic components, total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA), total saponins of Astragalus (TSA) and total polysaccharide of Astragalus (TPA).

METHODTFA, TSA and TPA were extracted from Astragalus roots using different organic solvents, and determined by colorimetry. The concentration of copper in extracts was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).

RESULTCopper was found in TFA, TPA and TSA, and its concentration in TFA and TPA was higher; the content of copper was correlated significantly to that of TFA and TPA (r1(2) = 0.754 8, F1 = 57.202, P < 0.01 and r2(2) = 0.499, F2 = 21.906, P < 0.01), while not to that of TSA ( r3(2) = 0.0026, F3 = 0.041, P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONCorrelation analysis could reveal the relationship of copper with organic components in Astragalus roots; contents and structure characteristics of organic components might be important factors influencing the distribution of copper in Astragalus roots.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Copper ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To evaluate the protective effect on lung by using continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood and L-arginine during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Methods Forty five cases received mitral valve replacement were randomly divided into 3 groups and each group involved 15 cases. Group I(control group), patients received routine procedure of CPB. Proup Ⅱ, patients received rcontinuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood. Group Ⅲ,continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood containing L-arginine (200 mg/kg) (n=15). All cases received routine procedure of CPB and continuously infused from the root of pulmonary artery until releasing aortaoaic clamp. Blood samples were collected from the radial artery respectively at the following time points:after the induction of anaesthesia, 1 hour after opening of aorta, 0, 6, 12, 24 hours after patients being taken back to ICU. ELISA test was used to detected the expression of tmmor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Lung tissue samples (1.0 cm ×1.0 cm×1.0 cm) were obtained from right lower lobe. The pathologicl changes of lung tissues were observed under light mi-croscope by using HE staining. Results at each time points, the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 in group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ weresignificantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.05). The level of TNF-α, IL-6 in group Ⅲ were lower than in group Ⅱ(P<0.05). However, the expression of IL-10 in group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ were higher than in group Ⅰ, and the level of IL-10 in group Ⅲ were higher than that in group Ⅱ(P<0.05). In the group Ⅰ: HE staining showed marked pulmonary interstitial edema, intra-alveolus neutrophilic granulocyte exudation with karyorrhexis. In the group Ⅱ, light capillary vessel hyperaemia and pulmonary interstitial lymphocyte exudation were detected. Nearly normal lung tissue were observed in group Ⅲ. Conclusion Continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood and L-arginine could inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory factors significantly and increase the releasing of anti-inflammatory factors during CPB. Therefore, it may reduces pulmonary inflammatory reaction and have protective effects on lung tissue.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of cryotherapy ablation treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and to analyse the predictive factors of cryotherapy ablation treatment.

METHODS190 patients of hepatitis B-related advanced HCC from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital underwent curative cryoablation. We used clinical cohort method to analyze cryoablation group (147 cases) and control group (43 cases). The median OS (over survival time) and TTP (time to disease progression) were compared. We also evaluated the clinical significance of age, gender, location of portal vein tumor thrombus, HBeAg, tumor histological grade, Child-Pugh classification, end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, advanced liver cancer prediction system (ALCPS) score and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score for predicting the efficacy of cryoablation. Two Groups were compared with the x² test. Survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the independent factors on survival based on the variables selected in univariate analysis.

RESULTSMedian survival time of cryoablation group and Control group were 7.5 (4.2 to 14.6) months and 3.2 (1.2 to 8.6) months, median TTP were 3.5 (2.5 to 4.5) months and 1.5 (1.0 to 3.5 months), the differences between were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Median OS and TTP of advanced HCC patients who had Well-differentiated tumor, Child-pugh A-class and low score of MELD score, ALCPS score; ECOG PS score were significantly longer than that of the poorly differentiated tumor, Child-pugh B-class and the high those scores (P < 0.05). ECOG PS (P less than 0.05, 95% CI 1.074 - 2.143) and ALCPS (P < 0.05, 95% CI 1.005-2.121) were independent predictors for OS of advanced HCC.

CONCLUSIONSCryoablation treatment can prolong median OS and TTP of advanced HCC. ECOG PS and ALCPS are important predictors for survival time of advanced HCC.

Azo Compounds ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gonanes ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Proteomics

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) and cholesterol on the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and on the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in the brains of rats.

METHODThe rats were treated by intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta1-42 and fed with a diet containing 5% cholesterol to establish animal model of AD. The pathological changes, learning and memory, and expression of nAChRs of rats were analyzed by Bieoschowsky staining, immunohistochemistry, water-labyrinth, Western blot, and RT-PCR.

RESULTSAbeta intracerebroventricular injection induced Abeta deposition in rat brains and high-cholesterol diet resulted in hypercholesterolemia in the animals. Injection of Abeta caused a reduction of learning and memory of rats and modifications of the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol enhanced these effects of Abeta on neuropathology and expression of nAChRs.

CONCLUSIONSAbeta can induce marked neuropathological changes, influence the learning and study ability, and modify the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol can enhance the neurotoxicity of Abeta.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) on cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors of human neuroblastoma cells.

METHODSHuman SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with different concentrations of Abeta(1-42) with and without pretreatment of vitamin E. MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and phospholipids were measured by spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol and unbiquinone were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The numbers of cholinergic receptor binding sites were determined by receptor binding assay and the protein levels of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits were studied by Western blotting.

RESULTSSH-SY5Y cells showed decreased reduction rates of MMT and phospholipids, and increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation after exposure to Abeta (0.1 micromol/L) as compared to the control. The number of cholinergic receptor binding sites, the protein level of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits and the content of ubiquinone decreased in cells treated with high dose of Abeta (1 micromol/L). Although the level of cholesterol was not changed in any way, vitamin E partially prevented the neurotoxic effects of Abeta.

CONCLUSIONbeta-amyloid peptide reduces the level of cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, likely through the induction of an enhanced oxidative stress.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Lipids ; metabolism ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Ubiquinone ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; metabolism ; pharmacology

Objective:To assess the changes in profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in peripheral blood of neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with hypoxia-ischemia(HI) injury with self-resuscitation.Methods:Neonatal rats of 3 pregnant rats were divided into 3 groups according to their nests, in which group A was the blank control group, group B was the HI group, and group C was the alternative group.The expression profiles of miRNAs in periphe-ral blood of neonatal rats in group A and B by high-throughput sequencing was compared.Bioinformatics analysis was applied to investigate these differentially expressed miRNAs.Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to screen out enriched signaling pathways and functions.Target genes of miRNAs and those correlated with hypoxia-ischemia brain damage were predicted using miRBaseData (miRBD) software.HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes of rat brain tissues.Results:A total of 1 049 mature reliable miRNAs in peripheral blood of neonatal rats were identified, including 525 miRNAs in group A, and 524 in group B. There were 27 differentially expressed miRNAs between group A and B, and their types were highly correlated.A total of 38 dysregulated miRNAs were screened out in group B, involving 21 upregulated miRNAs and 17 downregulated ones.GO and KEGG analyses showed that the identified differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly enriched in the glutamatergic synapse pathway, myelin lipid metabolism, neural activity ligand-receptor interaction and the vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway, all of them were significantly correlated with HIBD and over-activated.Cortex and subcallosal white matter lesions, enlarged ventricles, disordered arrangement of gray matter neurons, and obvious apoptosis in rat brain tissues of group A and B were not observed in HE staining.Conclusions:Differential expression of miRNAs in peripheral blood of HI self-resuscitated rats suggests that miRNAs has a positive response to hypoxia and ischemia.Differentially expressed miRNAs, including miR-200, miR-471, miR-429, miR-216 and miR-871 families, in peripheral blood of neonatal rat with HI showed their active response after HIBD.They are related to the molecular mechanisms of the nervous system damage, and are expected to become novel diagnostic markers for HIBD or HI.Differentially expressed miRNAs are conductive to the development of therapeutic targets of HI.

OBJECTIVETo compare the intracephalic imaging differences of stroke treated with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture and body acupuncture only, in order to apply the image basis for the differences of clinical curative effects.

METHODSTwenty cases of stroke were randomized into a body acupuncture group (group A) and a scalp and body acupuncture group (group B), ten cases in each group respectively. In group A, body acupuncture was applied simply, and different acupoints were selected according to the symptoms: Shousanli (LI 10), Jianliao (TE 14), Huantiao (GB 30) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. were selected for hemiplegia, Fengchi (GB 20), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Quanliao (SI 18) etc. were for facial paralysis, Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23) etc. were for aphasia. In group B, combined therapy were applied, the body acupoints selection was same as above; for scalp acupoints, corresponding motor area, sensory area and foot motor sensory area were selected. Instant changes of local cerebral blood flow before and after treatment were examined and evaluated by NIRS and the curative effects of both groups were evaluated.

RESULTSThe total therapeutic effective rate was 90.0% (9/10) and the basically cured rate was 30.0% (3/10) in group A; and 100.0% (10/10) and 50.0% (5/10) respectively in group B, indicating that the clinical curative effect in group B was superior to that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Both imaging results showed that blood flows of prefrontal cortex in both groups were increased with varying degrees after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the cerebral blood flow in group B was much more improved than that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can significantly increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in brain cortex, and the effect with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture is superior to that with body acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phototherapy ; instrumentation ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome