OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Pi transportation, dampness resolving and phlegm expelling herbs (PTDRPEH) on the obesity degree, fat hormones, and leptin resistance in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rats.

METHODSAmong the 120 Wister rats, 10 were recruited as the blank control group (fed with basal forage), and the remaining 110 were administered with high-fat high-nutrition forage for 17 weeks. According to weight, we obtained 40 DIO rats and 10 diet-induced obesity resistance (DIO-R) rats. DIO rats were further divided into four groups, i.e., the DIO model group (normal saline, at the daily dose of 2 mL), the sibutramine group (at the daily dose of 1.6 mg/kg), the dampness resolving and phlegm expelling group (DRPE, at the daily dose of 3.2 g/kg), and the Pi transportation group (PT, at the daily dose of 3.2 g/kg). All were given by gastrogavage. Normal saline (2 mL) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the blank control group and the DIO-R group. The basal forage was administered to rats in the blank control group, while high fat forage was continually given to rats in the remaining five groups. Their body weights and body lengths were measured after 16 weeks of gastrogavage. All intra-abdominal fat was taken out to measure the degree of obesity and fat contents. Insulin resistance index (IRI), blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and adiponectin were detected after blood withdrawing. Leptin, TNF-alpha, adiponectin, suppressors of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3), and other relevant adipose hormones and inflammatory cytokines were examined in the fat homogenate.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, DIO model rats' body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat factor, IRI, serum leptin, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); serum NPY, serum leptin, and adiponectin decreased (P < 0.05). Leptin increased and NPY decreased in DIO-R model rats. Compared with the DIO group, DIO-R model rats' body weight, BMI, fat factor, IRI, serum NPY, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 all decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); leptin and adiponectin in serum and the fat homogenate all increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After intervention with Sibutramine, rats' body weight, BMI, fat factor, and TNF-alpha in the fat homogenate obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum TNF-alpha decreased, leptin and adiponectin increased in rats of the DRPE group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BMI, fat factor, IRI, leptin, and SOCS-3 showed a decreasing tendency, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The body weight, BMI, fat factor, IRI, TNF-alpha, and SOCS-3 all decreased in the PT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); leptin and adiponectin in the serum and the fat homogenate increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSibutramine could reduce body weight and TNF-alpha in the adipose tissue. Herbs of PT could inhibit fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance (IR), with superior effect to herbs of DRPE. Its mechanism might be closely related to promoting leptin and adiponectin secreted by fat, reducing leptin resistance, and elevating serum levels of leptin and adiponectin.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo explore the significance of noninvasive central blood pressure detection in blood pressure management and vessel function assessment of hypertension.

METHODSA total of 348 subjects were recruited in the study and A-pulse CASP software were derived to measure the parameters of CASP and vessel function. The recruited subjects were divided into different groups for analysis according to age and disease.

RESULTS(1) CASP in hypertension group were both higher than those in normal group, while RAI and PRT lower. (2) Hypertensive patients of which brachial blood pressure were controlled have lower CASP and RAI than those above the level. (3) Hypertensive patients whose brachial blood pressure were controlled have significantly higher CASP than normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONSCentral blood pressure is more reflective of actural blood pressure and vessel function. Enhanced control of CASP in hypertensive patients contributes to improving vessel compliance.

Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Determination ; methods ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; Software ; Vascular Resistance

Adult stem cells are the multi-potential cells, which exist in fetal and adult tissues. It can reproduce itself (undergo self-renewal) or give rise to more specialized (differentiated) cells. Under certain inducing conditions, adult stem cells can acquire the ability to differentiate into different tissue cells. Multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPC), an alternative name of adult stem cell given by Catherine Verfaillie, existing in bone marrow, can differentiate into cells with characteristics of mesodermal, neuroectodermal, and endodermal lineages in vitro at the single-cell level. MAPC can also contribute to most cell types when injected into the blastocyst. Adult stem cell differentiation implies that different cell lineages are derived from a single initial cell; all differentiated cell types are functional in vitro and in vivo; and engraftment is robust and persistent in the physiological and pathological situations. The possible mechanisms may underlie the differentiation: various tissue-specific stem cells are present in different organs; adult stem cells would be reprogrammed when removed from their usual microenvironment and introduced into a different niche that imparts signals to activate a novel genetic program needed for the new cell fate. And true multi-potential stem cells persist in postnatal life. In the future, multi-potent adult stem cells might then be used for therapies of degenerative or genetic disorders of multiple different organs.
Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo observe mainfestations of syndrome and biochemical indices of hypertensive model rats with excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (EAPDS), and to explore its possible pathological mechanism.

METHODSEAPDS rat model was prepared in 50 Wistar rats by feeding with high fat forage. Meanwhile, a normal control group consisting of 10 Wistar rats was set up by feeding with normal forage. After 25-week continuous feeding, 22 rats with body weight (BW) and blood pressure (BP) exceeding 25% those of the control group were selected as a model group. BW, BP, blood lipids, and related serological indicators were detected in all rats. Morphological changes of target organs were observed. mRNA expression levels of leptin receptor (LepR), Janus kinase2 (Jak2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (Socs3), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K), serine threonine kinase (Akt), nuclear factor of kappa B (NF-κBp65), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase α (IKKα), NF-kappa-B inhibitor β (lKKβ), NF-kappa-B inhibitor α (IKBα), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Expression levels of AT1 and LepR in aorta were detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BW, BP, and blood lipids increased; serum levels of leptin (Lep) , Ang II, Hcy, ET-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and p2-MG increased, but NO decreased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Aortal endothelial injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation occurred in the model group, accompanied with heart and renal injury. Compared with the control group, mRNA expression levels of LepR, Jak2, Stat3, Socs3, AT1 , PI3K, Akt, NF-κB p65, IKKβ, IKBα, and AMPK in aorta were up-regulated significantly (P < 0.05), while the expression of IKKa decreased (P < 0.05). Immunohistochem- ical staining showed, brownish yellow deposit of AT1 and LepR was obviously increased, with more extensively positive distribution. Western blot results showed, as compared with the control group, protein expression levels of AT1 and LepR obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModel rats exhibited typical syndromes of EAPDS. They put up weight with fat abdomen, gloomy hair, poor appetite, hypersomnia, lowered activities , reduced food intake, loose stool, dark red tongue, white tongue with white, thick, greasy fur. Lep could be taken as one of objective indicators for evaluating hypertension rat model with EAPDS.

Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; blood ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; Transcription Factor RelA ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective: To acquire recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide ( NAP) with high anticoagulant activity. Methods: Pichia pastoris GS115 strain was transformed with recombinant yeast expression vector pPICS. 5K-rNAP. Expression of rNAP was induced with methanol after the identification of positive strains. NAP expressed in the collected yeast culture supernatant was confirmed with SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The biological activity of the products was validated with PT (prothrombin time) , INR (international normalized ratio) and APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) , respectively. Results: The yeast strains expressing NAP were identified. The rNAP was secreted into culture supernatant with a molecular weight of about 10 kDa due to glycosylation, which is a little bigger than that predicted (8.7kDa). The anticoagulant efficiency of rNAP was confirmed with the in vitro assays. Conclusion: The recombinant nematode anticoagulant peptide with high biological activity was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and can be used in the future development of novel anticoagulant agent.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of retinal binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C in blood and urine in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods One hundred and twenty-one patients with CKD in Nephrology Laboratory of The People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from Aug.2012 to Jan.2013 were served as the case group.Sixty healthy check-up people were considered as control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect RBP and Cystatin C in urine,and the immune turbidimetry testing was applied to detect RBP and Cystatin C in blood.The receiveroperating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) were applied to evaluate the sensibility and diagnostic value of indexes in CKD.Results The positive rate of RBP,Cystatin C in urine and blood were 89.6％,92.6％,52.5％,59.5％ respectively of 12 patients in case group,higher than those in control group (all value were 0,P ＜0.001).ROC curve showed that the sensitivity of urine RBP and Cystatin C were higher than that in blood of case group.AUC of RBP,Cystatin C level in urine and blood were 0.915,0.974,.655,and 0.623 respectively.And 95％ confidence interval were 0.877-0.954,0.956-0.992,0.575-0.736,0.543-0.702 respectively,and the differences are statistically significant (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The sensitivity of urine cystatin C and RBP are significantly higher than that in blood,which might be served as a diagnostic marker of CKD and can provide important basis for clinical diagnosis.

Objective:To explore the efifcacy and safety for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of left bundle branch guided by left bundle potential (LBP), X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System in canine model.
Methods:The RFCA of left bundle branch was conducted in 13 dogs. A mapping catheter was positioned in right atrium to record right-sided His-bundle (R-His) potential, and an ablation catheter via right femoral artery was retrograded to left ventriclefor LBP mapping and ablation. Meanwhile, EnSiteNavX System was used to identify R-His, L-His and LBP at the same time. The potential characteristics in dogs with successful ablation were observed, the PR interval, QRS shape and time limit, AH interval, HV interval, the A/V electro-gram ratio in ablationcatheter at before and after ablation were recorded. The procedural time and X-ray exposure time between LBP with X-ray image method and LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System method were compared.
Results: There were 9/13 dogs received successful left bundle branch ablation, 3 dogs failed and 1 suffered from complete A-V block. At the successful ablation target site, the LBP-V was (17.8 ± 2.6) ms with the range of (13-21) ms, and the A/V electro-gram ratio<1/10. The procedural time and X-ray expose time were signiifcantly decreased in LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System method than those in LBP with X-ray image method P=0.007 and P<0.001.
Conclusion:Under the LBP, X-ray image with EnSiteNavX System guidance method, left bundle branch could be safely and effectively ablated to establish left bundle branch block (LBBB) model in experimental canine.

Objective To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at tusanli (ST36) on regulation of stress response under different doses of etomidate anesthesia in rats.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 280-310 g, were randomly divided into control group (group C), model group (group M), etomidate 60 mg/kg group (group E1), etomidate 30 mg/kg group (group E2), etomidate 60 mg/kg combined with EA group (group EA1) and etomidate 30 mg/kg combined with EA group (group EA2), n=10 in each group.All groups received inferior caudal trunk transection at the level between sacral spinal nerve 3 and 4 (S3, S4) to prepare acute stress response model except group C.Group M received no others treatment.The rats in group E1, group EA1, group E2 and group EA2 were intraperitoneally injected with 60, 60, 30 and 30 mg/kg etomidate, respectively.Group EA1 and group EA2 received EA ST36.The points were stimulated at a frequency of 2/100 Hz with 1 mA output and a dilatational wave, which lasted for 30 min.ACTH and Cor levels were measured by ELISA.The c-fos protein expression in hypothalamic tissue was examined by Western blot.Results Compared with group C, ACTH and Cor levels, and hypothalamic expression of c-fos protein in group M were significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with group M, serum ACTH and Cor levels, and hypothalamic expression of c-fos protein in groups E1, E2, EA1 and EA2 were significantly decreased (P<0.05).Compared with group E1, serum ACTH and Cor levels, and hypothalamic expression of c-fos protein were significantly higher in groups E2 and EA1 (P<0.05).Compared with group E2, serum ACTH level and hypothalamic expression of c-fos protein were significantly lower in group EA2 (P<0.05).Conclusion EA at ST36 regulating stress response under etomidate anesthesia in rats is effective and two-way, and the mechanism may be due to the release of neurotransmitters induced c-fos protein in hypothalamus.

Objective To compare the treatment effects between improved micro-laparoscopic hernia sac high ligation and traditional hernia sac high ligation.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted.A total of 200 pediatric patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia in our hospital from 2013 to 2014,ranging in age from 8 months to 14 years,were enrolled and divided into observational group and control group (n=100) The two groups received improved-micro-laparoscopic hernia sac high ligation and traditional hernia sac high ligation respectively.We recorded intraoperative blood loss,operative incision length and operation time during the operation,and hospitalization time,pain time and total cost after the operation.Recurrence rate and complication were followed up for 6 months.Treatment effects were compared between these two groups.Results Smaller incision length,less blood loss and postoperative pain,shorter operative time and hospitalization time and lower recurrence rate were found in observational group and they were of statistical significance (P＜0.05).Conclusion Improved-micro-laparoscopic hernia sac high ligation for pediatric inguinal hernia shows better treatment effect,lower recurrence rate and better prognosis and it is an ideal approach.