Objective To confirm the protective effect of berberine (BBR) on cold ischemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced liver injury and to show whether the hepatic protection conferred by BBR involves the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signal pathway.Method Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned randomly to four groups:BBR group (BBR was intragastrically administered at a dose of 100 mg·kg-1 · d-1 2 weeks before hepatic cold I/R treatment),dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (BBR was replaced by DMSO,and others were the same as BBR group),I/R group (BBR was replaced by normal saline,and others were the same as BBR group) and sham group (normal saline was administered 2 weeks before opening and closing abdomen treatment).Then the rats were sacrificed at 3,6,and 24 h after reperfusion.The liver function,oxidative stress level,apoptosis rate,and the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR related pathway proteins were assayed.Result As compared with sham group,the I/R-induced liver tissue displayed severe lobular distortion with widespread necrosis,high level of oxidative stress and apoptosis rate.As compared with I/R group,BBR dramatically attenuated the histopathologic damage,restored the liver function and decreased the oxidative stress level.Simultaneously,BBR significantly ameliorated the apoptosis by decreasing the apoptosis rate,increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting caspase-3 activity in rats subjected to hepatic I/R.The expression of p-Akt was effectively upregulated with the inhibited expression of p-mTOR.Conclusion Our result provides robust in vivo evidence that BBR can prevent I/R-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.The mechanisms involved can be attributed to the activation of P]3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway.

Objective:To investigate the change of biological characteristics after stable knockdown of CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 3 (CMTM3)expression in PC3 by lentivirus shRNA and to reveal new therapeutic targets.Methods:The research includes two groups:sh393 is the experimental group in which CMTM3 is knocked down in PC3 cell line;shN is the control group in which CMTM3 is negatively knocked down.The expression of CMTM3 was detected by Western blot.The mi-gration ability of PC3 after stable knockdown was detected by Transwell and Wound healing assay.The invasion ability of PC3 was detected by Matrigel assay.Results were obtained from at least three indivi-dual experiments.Results:The expression of CMTM3 in sh393 group is significant lower than shN group (0.004 0 ±0.000 4 vs.0.490 0 ±0.055 7,P <0.001)detected by Western blot.It also had statistical significance in Matrigel assays (248.6 ±4.5 vs.113.0 ±3.3),Transwell (203.6 ±1.9 vs.103.0 ± 1.2)and Wound healing assays (95.0 ±2.9 vs.33.0 ±1.5)that knockdown of CMTM3 promoted mi-gration,and invasion of PC3 cells in vitro (P <0.001).Conclusion:Negative correlation exists between the stable knockdown of CMTM3 and change of biological characteristics in PC3 cells,and knocking down CMTM3 affects migration,and invasion ability in PC3 cells.

Near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to analyze the impact of multi-class particle size of Chinese material medica (CMM) based on the spectral characteristics in overtone and combination region. Several types of CMM (60, 80, 100,120 mesh) were subjected to NIR spectra analysis. Spectral reproducibility was examined after sample repackage. The result showed that the effects of particle size on the NIR spectra were different according to different bands, in the combination region and first combination-overtone region. Spectroscopy intensity was proportional to the particle size and influence of particle size was greater as the wavelength increased. While in the second combination-overtone region, it was inversely proportional to particle size. To the sampling loading error, the result indicated that when the mesh number was larger than 60 mesh, the error was small. The appropriate particle size was clarified to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in CMM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Materia Medica ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Near-infrared (NIR) was used as rapid analysis method to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix. NIR spectra of the cross-sectional and longitudinal selection of samples were acquired. Principal component analysis was conducted. The samples were randomly selected. The different pretreatment methods were compared. Discriminant models were established for every type of spectra to calculate the recognition rate. The orthogonal test and nonparametric test were used to test data normality. The result showed that absorbance values of different sections were different due to the different structure, and the raw spectra were analyzed by PCA method. The result founded that the cumulative contribution rate was arrived at 99.2% while the PC numbers were arrived at 3. The pretreatment method based on the MSC + 1D + Savitzky-Golay was the best to establish the model. For the 50 models constructed with cross-section and longitudinal spectra and total spectra, the recognition rate were (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (95.3 ± 0.65)%, respectively, and no difference was observed. The NIR method could be used to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Sulfur ; chemistry

·AIM:To present a case of late onset bilateral keratectasis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses with a brief review of literature on this subject.·METHODS:A 27-year-old woman underwent bilateral uneventful LASIK for moderate myopia. Preoperative cycloplegic refractions were -5.50/-0.50×50° right eye (OD) and - 4.50/-1.00×15° left eye (OS).Corneal pachymetry was 526μm OD and 541μm OS, Preoperative corneal topography was normal and did not reveal any keratoconus or forme fruste keratoconus.Following the creation of flaps with 160μm plates,ablations of 102μm OD and 86μm OS were performed,estimated to leave residual stromal beds of 264μm OD and 295μm OS.·RESULTS:Twenty-nine months postoperatively,the patient developed bilateral inferior keratectasia of -12.50/-4.00×160° OD and -6.00/- 4.25×125° OS.Visual acuity was reduced in both eyes;the central cornea had steepened; and pachymetry showed central corneal thinning.Keratectasia was diagnosed,and rigid contact lenses were fitted.Three years later,the patient achieved satisfactory visual acuity and all-day lens wear with minimal complications.·CONCLUSION:Late keratectasia may follow LASIK for low to moderate myopia despite a thorough preoperative work-up.Rigid contact lenses can offer a safe,reversible option for improving visual acuity in such patients by delaying or avoiding the need for intracorneal ring segments implanting or penetrating keratoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of intermedin preconditioning on hypoxic injury in rat's cardiac myocytes and to provide the hypothetical mechanism of sudden cardiac death in the field of forensic pathology. METHODS: The H9c2 cultured rat cardiac myocytes were randomly divided into control group, hypoxia group and IMD group. The myocardial cell viability, cellular ultrastructure, intracellular calcium concentration and apoptosis rate were determined by MTT assay, transmission electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, cell viability obviously decreased with inner ultrastructure injury in the hypoxia group (P<0.05), while cell viability significantly increased in the IMD group by reducing the hypoxia injury of cardiac myocytes (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, [Ca2+]i (fluorescence intensity) and apoptosis rate significantly increased in the hypoxia group, but decreased in the IMD group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION IMD increases the cell survival rate and decreases the cell apoptosis inhibited by intracellular calcium overload from hypoxia. This finding may reveal the mechanism of protective effects of myocardial hypoxia, and provide a scientific basis for the identification sudden cardiac death.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxia ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardium/cytology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/physiology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To investigate the underlying mechanism of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor FK228-in- duced apoptosis of the prostate cancer cell line DU145.Methods:The inhibitory effect of FK228 on DU145 cell growth and its cytotoxicity were determined by MTT assay;cell cycle arrest was detected by flow cytometry assay;morphological change was observed by Giemsa staining;and defined kinase protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis.Re- suits:FK228 obviously inhibited DU145 cells growth,arrested cell cycle at G_0/G_1 phase,induced cells morphological changes and degraded several kinase proteins,including EGFR,Her2,Raf-1,Src,Cdk4 and IAP member Survivin.The degradation of these kinases blocked Raf-Mek-Erk and PI3K/Akt survival signal pathways,inducing apoptosis.Condu- sion:FK228 may induce DU145 cell apoptosis through depletion of multiple kinase proteins and blockade of survival sig- nal pathways of DU145 cells.

Objective: To investigate the clinical application and effect evaluation of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in the optimization of vascular recanalization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 389 STEMI patients admitted to the emergency department of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2014 to January 2015 were served as the control group, and 398 STEMI patients admitted to the chest pain center of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2016 to October 2017 were served as the experimental group. In the control group, routine emergency treatment was used. At the same time, the intervention room was 24-hour prepared for emergency vascular recanalization. The experimental group used FMEA. Through the usage of FMEA, the main factors those caused the delay in revascularization treatment were determined, and the revascularization process was optimized for these influencing factors, thereby shortening the "criminal" blood vessel opening time of patients. The door-to-balloon dilatation time (D-to-B time), troponin testing time, placement time of the catheterization room, initiation of the catheterization room to balloon dilatation time, and preoperative and 1 week postoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, heart function parameters [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular short axis shortening rate (FS), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD)] within 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after intervention, and the incidence of main cardiovascular adverse events within 1 month after intervention, hospital mortality, the length of hospital stay, and readmission within 1 year in the patients of two groups were recorded. Results: D-to-B time (minutes: 70.6±3.6 vs. 79.4±8.7), troponin testing time (minutes: 17.1±2.3 vs. 65.2±6.5), placement time of the catheterization room (minutes: 28.9±9.8 vs. 52.3±12.2) and activation of the catheterization room to balloon expansion time (minutes: 47.3±9.3 vs. 65.1±7.2) in the experimental group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (all P < 0.01). The NT-proBNP levels at 1 week after intervention in the two groups were lower than the preoperative levels, slightly lower in the experimental group, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in cardiac function at 1 week and 3 months after intervention between the two groups. The LVEF and FS at 6 months after intervention in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group [LVEF: 0.622±0.054 vs. 0.584±0.076, FS: (38.1±4.3)% vs. (35.4±6.2)%, both P < 0.01], and LVESD and LVEDD were decreased significantly [LVESD (mm): 31.2±3.8 vs. 34.7±4.2, LVEDD (mm): 49.2±5.3 vs. 52.4±5.6, all P < 0.01]. The length of hospital stay in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (days: 8.3±3.2 vs. 13.2±6.8, P < 0.01), the incidence of major cardiovascular adverse events within 1 month after intervention [13.6% (54/398) vs. 19.8% (77/389)], hospital mortality [1.8% (7/398) vs. 4.9% (19/389)], and readmission rate within 1 year [9.5% (38/398) vs. 14.5% (56/389)] in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Conclusion The usage of FMEA to optimize the vascular recanalization procedure can shorten the emergency treatment time of STEMI patients, reduce the occurrence of adverse events, and improve the prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the necessity of detecting the gene of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator factor (CFTR) in Chinese men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD).

METHODSWe detected the mutation of all the 27 exons of the CFTR gene in 9 patients with CBAVD by DNA sequencing, and compared the results using NCBI and Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Database.

RESULTSFour novel missense mutations/variants were found in the CFTR gene of the CBAVD patients, which were submitted and accepted in the Cystic Fibrosis Mutation Database.

CONCLUSIONThere are mutations or variants in the CFTR gene in Chinese men with CBAVD, and the mutational distribution is different from that in Westerners.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; genetics ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; genetics ; Mutation ; Vas Deferens ; abnormalities

Objective:To observe the protective effect of deproteinized extract of calf blood (DECB)on the ethanol-induced liver injury of the mice,and to preliminaryly discuss its mechanism. Methods:Sixty healthy ICR mice were divided into control group,model group,positive drug group,low,medium and high doses of DECB groups (n=10).By intragastric administration,the mice in control group were given 20 mL·kg-1 saline solution, the mice in low,medium and high doses of DECB groups were administrated with 0.125,0.250,0.500 g·kg -1 DECB,and the mice in positive drug group were administrated with 0.63 g·kg -1 Hugan Tablets;once a day for 30 d. 1 h after the last administration,except control group,the mice in other groups were administrated with one-time grant of 50% ethanol 14 mL·kg -1 ,and fasted for 16 h to establish the models of acute alcohol liver injury.The endurance alcohol time and drunk time of the mice were determined,the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (ALT)and alanine transaminase (AST)activity in serum of the mice were detected,the levels of triglyceride (TG),glutathione (GSH)and malonic dialdehyde (MDA)in liver tissue were determined,and the pathological changes of liver tissue were detected.Results:Compared with model group,the drunk symptoms of the mice in different doses of DECB groups were obviously reduced,the endurance time of the mice in high dose of DECB group and positive drug group was prolonged (P <0.05),and the drinking time was shortened (P <0.05);the ALT and AST activities in serum in mediun and high doses of DECB groups were significantly lower than those in model group (P <0.05).Compared with model group,the MDA and TG levels in liver tissue of the mice in medium and high doses of DECB groups and positive drug group were obviously reduced,and the GSH levels were increased (P <0.05);compared with model group,the pathological damages of liver tissue of the mice in high dose of DECB group caused by ethanol were significantly reduced.Conclusion:DECB can improve ethanol-induced liver injury which may be related to the inhibition of hepatic oxidative stress response.