Objective To study the effects of vitamin E(VitE) on TNF-?,IL-1? and nitric oxide(NO) secretion from human monocytes stimulated by advanced glycation end products.Methods Human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMCs) from 20 hemodialysis(HD) patients and 15 normal volunteers were isolated.These PBMCs were cultured in vitro with advanced glycation end products(AGE) and vitamin E.All of these PBMCs were divided into control group,AGE-inducing group,different doses VitE group and different culture VitE group.The levels of TNF-? and IL-1? in supernatants were detected by ELISA.The levels of NO were detected by biochemical method.Results The basal secretion of TNF-?,IL-1? in monocytes from HD patients was more than those from normal volunteers.AGE induced significantly more secretion of TNF-? and IL-1?(P

AIM: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from human umbilical cord blood can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells under a suitable induction condition. The optimal condition is still unclear. This study investigated the feasibility of differentiation of MSCs isolated from human umbilical cord blood into hepatocyte-like cells with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vitro to find a new cell source for live tissue engineering. METHODS: The experiment was performed from March to September 2007 at the Central Laboratory of First Hospital of Lanzhou University. ①Three cases of umbilical cord blood were collected from full-term pregnant women. Pregnant women had signed an informed consent. The experiment was approved by Hospital’s Ethical Committee. ②MSCs from umbilical cord blood were separated by density gradient centrifugation and adherent method. Cell surface molecule was measured by flow cytometry. Third passage of cells were divided into four groups and cultured in DMEM medium with HGF (HGF group), IL-6 (IL-6 group), HGF+IL-6 (HGF+IL-6 group) or no growth factor (control group). ③The characteristics of proliferation and growth of MSCs were studied by microscopy and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). The phenotypes of MSCs were identified by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical method. Albumin levels in culture supernatants were determined with enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: ①Growth and division of adherent cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood were good. The shape of MSCs changed into triangle, polygonal or round on days 21-28 in induction groups. ②Positive staining reaction for alpha fetoprotein (AFP) on day 7, for CK18 on days 21, 28 after induction. Albumin production by induced MSCs increased in a time-dependent manner. The positive percents of every hepatocytic marker were higher in the HGF+IL-6 group than in the IL-6 group and HGF group (P

Background and purpose:There were reports that radiotherapy might intensify angiogenesis and result in the resistance of tumor to radiotherapy.Endostar,a new type rh-endostatin,may specifically inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth,so it may reduce the resistance to radiotherapy.This study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Endostar in combination with radiation compared with cisplatin(DDP) plus radiation on lung adenocarcinoma A549 in BALB/c nude mice.Methods:We established A549 lung adenocarcinoma xenograft models.When the largest diameter of tumor reached 1.0 cm,all mice were randomized into 4 groups(n=6):control,radiation alone,radiation plus DDP,radiation plus Endostar.We measured the largest diameter and the vertical diameter of the tumors at different time points after treatment.At the 16th day,mice were executed and the tumors were subjected to removal for the analysis of apoptosis,and the expression level of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) were also detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:The tumor growth velocity of control,radiation alone,radiation plus DDP,radiation plus Endostar were(162?6)%,(131?8)%,(104?7)% and(108?11)% respectively(P0.05).The apoptosis rates of control,radiation alone,radiation plus DDP,radiation plus Endostar were(12.2?1.1)%,(16.5?0.8)%,(24.4?1.5)% and(20.5?1.9)%,respectively(P

Objective To explore the effect of hypoxia-ischemia(HI)on expression of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase proteinc(Smac)in brain tissue of neonatal rats.Methods All neonatal rats were divided randomly into HI group,pseudo-operation group,and normal control group.The animal models of HIE were made.At 24,48,72,96 h after HI,Western blot was used to detect the expression of Smac protein in hippocampus.The relative activity of Caspase-3 in hippocampus tissue was determined by colorimetric assay.Results In HI group,at 24,48,72,96 h after HI,the expression levels of Smac protein in hippocampus significantly increased compared with that of pseudo-operation group and normal control group(Pa

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between microalbuminuria(MAU) and cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetes.MethodsThe urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was measured,and the cardiac autonomic function was detected using 24 hour ambulatory ECG spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in 46 patients with diabetes and 31 normal control subjects.ResultsParameters of time and frequencydomain of HRV were reduced in patients with diabetes.The high frequency at night reflecting the cardiac vagus nerve function was significantly lower in diabetic patients than control group.In diabetic patients with MAU,the detected values of HRV were significantly decreased,combined vagosympathetic impairment occurred,and 24 hour rhythm from day to night in autonomic nervous activity disappeared.ConclusionMAU in diabetes is related with HRV.

The DNA demethylase genes are widespread in plants. Four DNA demethylase genes (LJDME1, LJDME2, LJDME3 and LJDME4) were obtained from transcriptome dataset of Lonicera japonica Thunb by using bioinformatics methods and the proteins' physicochemical properties they encoded were predicted. The phylogenetic tree showed that the four DNA demethylase genes and Arabidopsis thaliana DME had a close relationship. The result of gene expression model showed that four DNA demethylase genes were different between species. The expression levels of LJDME1 and LJDME2 were even more higher in Lonicera japonica var. chinensis than those in L. japonica. LJDME] and LJDME2 maybe regulate the active compounds of L. japonica. This study aims to lay a foundation for further understanding of the function of DNA demethylase genes in L. japonica.

Dried roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) are among the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in clinic. The material basis for its efficacy mainly includes hydrophobic tanshinones and hydrophilic salvianolic acids. The traditional effects of Danshen are "removing stasis and relieving pain, activating blood to promote menstruation, clearing heart fire and tranquilization". According to modern pharmacological studies, Danshen and its main components have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effect. Recent studies showed that Danshen and its main components also demonstrated protective effects on liver injury models induced by carbon tetrachloride, D-galactosamine, acetaminophen and alcohol. In this paper, the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of Danshen were summarized and studied.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Object To establish a new method for the identification of Yangti (Chinese herb from Rumex L., Polygonaceae) by near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrometry. Methods Cluster analysis and discriminative analysis were adopted for their identification. Results The method can identify crude Yangti to a certain degree with results coincident with that of the traditional phytotoxnomy. Conclusion This method can be used for the rapid and accurate differentiation of crude drug of Rumex L..

Objective:To survey the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in high risk patients undergoing thoracotomy and observe the changes of hemostatic activity. Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients (ages that ranged from 35 to 79, 34 men and 18 women) with lung or esophagus cancer were enrolled into this prospective trial. The patients included underwent major thoracic surgery from February 2003 to April 2003. Bilateral lower extremity duplex ultrasonography for DVT screening was performed 3-10 days post surgery in all 52 patients and 57 matched clinic normal controls. Venous blood was collected to determine fibrinogen(FIB), D-dimer(D-D), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), antithrombin (AT), thrombin antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin time (PT),international normalized ratio(INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) immediately before surgery, the third and tenth days postoperatively. No patient had a prior thromboembotic history. Risk factors for DVT were evaluated. Results: Of the 52 patients, 28 (53.8%) had an acute postoperative DVT detected in the calf. One patient died of suspected pulmonary embolism postoperatively. Plasma levels of FIB and D-D increased significantly up to 7 d after operation. AT level decreased significantly 3 d after operation and returned to normal 7 d latter. TAT increased significantly 3 d post operation and decreased to normal on day 7. PAI level was lowered 3 d after surgery, but increased significantly on day 7 compared with that on day 3. With the addition of risk factors related to thrombosis, the incidence of DVT was increased correspondingly. Conclusion: Of the patients undergoing major thoracic surgery,53.8% of them had a postoperative DVT by postoperative screening duplex ultrasound. In Chinese population, incidence of DVT appears to be high without prophylaxis, which is similar to other reports of westerners. These patients had a number of risk factors for the development of DVT, which include older age, overweight, hypertension, diabetes, and history of thromboembolism, etc. Prophylactic measures should be taken against postoperative venous thromboembolism in major thoracic surgery with high risk, including early mobilization, anticoagulant therapy with heparins, and intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC).

Objective To determine the optimal cut-off value of critical-care pain observation tool (CPOT) in assessing degree of pain in patients undergone craniotomy, and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of CPOT with this cut-off value. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted in Beijing Tiantan Hospital. A total of 118 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) after craniotomy was consecutively enrolled during August 2014 to August 2015. CPOT and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to assess the pain before, during and 20 minutes after the removal of central venous catheters, and the difference was compared between two scores at three time points. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off values for evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of CPOT. Patients' complaint of pain was considered the gold-standard. Results CPOT values (inter-quartile range) before, during and after the procedure were 0 (0-3), 0 (0-6) and 0 (0-2), respectively; while VAS values were 4 (1, 6), 3 (1, 6) and 4 (1, 6), respectively. CPOT value during the procedure was significantly higher than CPOT values before and after the procedure (both P < 0.01). When the optimal cut-off value of CPOT was 1, CPOT showed the highest Youden index before, during and after the procedure (1.183, 1.515, and 1.438, respectively), and showed high specificity (all 100%) and low sensitivity (18.3% and 43.8%, respectively) when assessing the pain before and after the removal of the catheter. The sensitivity and the specificity were high when assessing the pain during the procedure, the sensitivity was 69.4%, and the specificity was 82.1%. When the optimal cut-off value of VAS was 2 before and during the procedure, and was 4 after the procedure, VAS showed the highest Youden index, 1.568, 1.452, and 1.509, respectively. VAS demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity before, during and after the procedure (sensitivity was 97.2%, 95.2% and 75.0%, respectively; specificity was 59.6%, 50.0% and 75.9%, respectively). The area under ROC curve (AUC) of CPOT before, during and after the procedure were 0.592 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.490-0.693], 0.778 (95%CI= 0.693-0.863) and 0.719 (95%CI = 0.627-0.811), respectively; the AUC of VAS before, during and after the procedure were 0.846 (95%CI = 0.771-0.920), 0.767 (95%CI = 0.681-0.854) and 0.838 (95%CI = 0.767-0.909), respectively. The AUC of VAS before and after the procedure was significantly higher than the AUC of CPOT (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006), while there was no significant difference between the AUC of VAS and CPOT during the procedure (P = 0.826). Conclusion CPOT can be used to assess the pain during painful procedure, and it shows high accuracy, but with poor evaluation effect on pain in rest.