Objective To investigate the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) captopril and angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist losartan on the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-9 in vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ ).Methods Male Wistar rats' thoracic aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro.The cultured cells were divided in to control group,Ang Ⅱ group,captopril group,losartan group,and captopril plus losartan group.Cells in all groups were collected at the culture end-point.MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA expressions were detected by RT-PCR method in the collected specimens,and the effects of Ang Ⅱ on MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA expression and the intervention effects of captopril and losartan were observed in different Ang Ⅱ concentrations and different action times to vascular smooth muscle cells.Results ( 1 ) MMP-1 mRNA expression gradually increased along with the increments of Ang Ⅱ concentration and the action time (P＜0.05),and the most significant concentration was 10-6 mol/L (P＜0.01).(2)Captopril (5 × 10-6 mol/L) and losartan (5 × 10-6mol/L) inhibited the action of AngⅡ (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).MMP-9 mRNA expression was 0.47±0.03 ,0.86 ± 0.04,0.94±0.14 and 1.12±0.19 vs.0.10±0.04 (P＜0.05,P＜0.01) respectively when Ang Ⅱ concentration was 10-7 ,10-6 ,10-5 and 10-4 mol/L respectively.Captopril (5 × 10-6mol/L) and losartan (5 × 10-6 mol/I) significantly inhibited the MMP-9 mRNA expression which was stimulated by Ang Ⅱ (P＜0.05,P＜0.01),especially in captopril plus losartan group.The MMP-9 mRNA expression increased with the prolonging of stimulating time of Ang Ⅱ,MMP-9 mRNA expression was earlier than that of MMP-1.Conclusions AngⅡ increases the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-9 of vascular smooth muscle cells in a dose-and time-dependence manner.Captopril and losartan inhibit the MMP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA expression of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by Ang Ⅱ ,and the inhibition is the strongest when losartan was combined with captopril.The inhibitive effects is positively correlated to action time.

Objective To investigate the histological and biochemical responses associated with periprosthetic osteolysis,including the changes of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),osteoprotegerin(OPG) and os- teoprotegeria ligand (OPEL) in the interface membrane in rat models so as to understand the mechanisms of these interactions.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were used in this study.A titanium alloy plug was inserted into each distal femur through the knee joint.Polyethylene particles were injected into the left knee at 2,4,6,8 and 10 weeks after implantation of the plugs.Saline solution was injected into the right knee as the control.The animals were killed 12 weeks after implantation.The distal femur was taken from each knee to make histological sections. The samples were made decalcified and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.The histopathological changes were observed under a light microscope.The concentrations of TNF-?in the membrane were assayed by a ELISA kit and the mRNA expressions of OPG and OPEL extracted from the tissue around the plug were detected by RT-PCR. Results The interface membrane taken from the experimental side was found to contain extensive fibrous tissues which extended deeply into the surrounding hone.TNF-?concentrations in the membrane of the experimental side were higher than in the control membrane.There was a significant decrease of OPG mRNA and a significant increase of OPGL mRNA in the membrane around the plug at the experimental side compared with the control side.Con- clusions Polyethylene particles can induce inflammatory responses around the titanium alloy plug.The increase of OPGL expression and reduction of OPG expression in membrane at the experimental side may be induced by TNF-?. Such changes might contribute to the differentiation of osteoclasts and result in the periprosthetic osteolysis.

Objective To provide a clinical anatomic basis for the bi-pedicled gastrocnemius myocuta- neous flap which is to be used to repair defects of the Achilles tendon and posterior skin of the ankle.Methods In anatomic study,out of 30 cadaver specimens,bi-pedicled V-Y gastrocnemius myoeutaneous flaps were harvested to measure the downward sliding lengths of the flap when the knee was at flexion of different degrees.In clinic,12 patients with the Achilles tendon and posterior ankle skin defects were repaired with the bi-pedicled gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps.The areas of composite defects ranged from 10 cm?6 cm to 6 cm?4 cm.They were followed up for four months to 12 years.Results The maximal sliding length of the flap reached (9.2?0.9)cm when the knee was at flexion of 90?.All the clinical flaps survived and ambulation of the patients recovered.The dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankles reached 11.0??1.4?and 35.0??4.6?respectively.Conclusion This flap is suitable for one-stage repair of composite Achilles tendon defects.

Objective To investigate the effects of low dose of extracellular histone on endothelial cells in infectious diseases such as sepsis. Methods The endothelial cells were treated with 10 μg/mL recombinant human histone H3/H4 complex in replacement of calf thymus histones (CTH) for various periods of time, and the morphology changes and the viability of the endothelial cells were recorded. In addition, flow cytometry was applied to identify the characteristics of endothelial cells and enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the extracellular histones level in endothelial cells culture. Results The low dose of CTH could continuously induce endothelial cells death, cell morphological changes and function loss, which was reproduced by 10 μg/mL recombinant histone H3/H4 complex. Results of histones quantitation showed that histone can cause a series of intracellular reactions in a short period of time. Conclusions It is showed that 10 μg/mL H3/H4 can induce the toxicity in infectious disease and this level of the dose is a lower than those used in previous studies and more close to the pathological conditions.

Objective To investigate the association between endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.Methods Ninetyfour stable CAPD patients from a single center were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.Ultrasound evaluation was conducted on brachial artery to estimate endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD).Automatice pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine the carotidfemoral PWV.Blood pressure and biochemical parameters were detected.Pearson's correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between FMD and PWV.Results PWV was significantly higher in patients with diabetes as compared to those without diabetes[(13.25± 1.66) m/s vs (11.24±1.92) m/s,P ＜ 0.01].Furthermore,PWV was positively correlated with age(r=0.319,P=0.002),SBP (r=0.289,P=0.005) and C-reactive protein (r=0.211,P=0.041),was negatively correlated with albumin (r =-0.429,P =0.001) and FMD (r=-0.466,P=0.001).In multivariate regression analysis,diabetes mellitus,albumin,FMD,age and SBP were independently associated with PWV after adjustment.Conclusion Endothelial dysfunction is associated with greater arterial stiffness in CAPD patients.

Objective To investigate the change of extracellular histone level as well as the mecha-nism of the cytotoxicity of extracellular histones on vascular endothelial cell in sepsis. Methods Septic chil-dren admitted to PICU in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center between January 2010 and December 2014 were included in the present study. According to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis,the patients were divided into the sepsis group(51 cases) and the severe sepsis group(79 cases),with healthy children as the control group (108 cases). Patients in the severe sepsis group were further divided into the survival group(45 cases) and the non-survival group ( 34 cases ) based on 28-day mortality. The plasma concentration of extracellular histones in these children was determined and its correlation with the severity of sepsis was analyzed. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were incubated with calf thymus histone(CTH) at various con-centrations(0,50,100,200 and 300μg/ml) or different time periods(200μg/ml,0,5,15,30,45 and 60 mi-nutes) . The treated cells were subject to flow cytometer to measure the cell survival rate and scanning/trans-mission electron microscopy to observe their morphological changes. Western blot was used to detect the ex-pression of IκB and phosphor-p38/p38 in nuclear factor ( NF )-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) signaling pathways,while ELISA was used to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Results The levels of circulating histones in the septic children(2. 29 ± 1. 00) and severe sep-tic children ( 19. 17 ± 10. 20 ) were significantly higher than that of healthy controls ( 0. 23 ± 0. 26 ) ( P <0. 001),and the histone levels in the severe septic children were even higher(P<0. 001). Among the chil-dren diagnosed as severe sepsis,the level of circulating histones in the non-survivors was significantly higher than that in the survivors(29. 47 ± 5. 99 vs. 10. 94 ± 2. 68,P<0. 001). The survival rate of HUVEC gradually decreased along with the increase of CTH concentration or the treatment period in vitro. Data from electron microscopy showed that CTH treatment could directly disrupt the plasma membrane of HUVEC. Histones could also activate NF-κB and MAPK pathways,leading to the release of large amount of tumor necrosis fac-tor-α and interleukin-6. Conclusion The levels of extracellular histones in the septic children are correlated with the severity of sepsis. CTH can induce HUVEC death in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Extracellu-lar histone-induced endothelial dysfunction may mediate the progression of sepsis and such cytotoxicity might be due to the destruction of endothelial cell membranes and activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Objective: To observe the effect of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) on the muscle strength in senile sarcopenia. Methods: Sixty-five old people with sarcopenia were randomized into Yi Jin Jing group and a blank control group. Thirty-three patients in Yi Jin Jing group practiced Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises), while 32 patients in the blank control group didn't receive any interventions. The muscle strength was measured before and after 12-week training. Results: During the study, each group had 1 dropout. The muscle strength was improved after 12-week training in Yi Jin Jing group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the blank control group (P>0.05). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between Yi Jin Jing group and the blank control group in comparing the muscle strength (P<0.05). Conclusion: Constant Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) training can notably improve skeletal muscle strength in senile sarcopenia.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effectiveness of sertraline hydrochloride combined with four-spot caress in the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSWe randomly assigned 90 primary PE patients to three groups of equal number. The patients in group A (aged [28.1 ± 5.2] yr and with a disease course of [3.1 ± 1.9] yr) were treated with oral sertraline hydrochloride at 50 mg qd, those in B (aged [27.8 ± 4.1] yr and with a disease course of [3.2 ± 2.0] yr) by four-spot caressing (caressing the tongue, breasts, and vulva prior to intercourse), and those in C (aged [27.1 ± 4.7] yr and with a disease course of [3.1 ± 2.0] yr) by the combination of oral sertraline hydrochloride and four-spot caressing, all for 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, we obtained the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation-5 (CIPE-5) scores and compared them among the three groups of patients.

RESULTSThe IELT was dramatically prolonged in groups A, B, and C after 4 weeks ([1.08 ± 0.29], [0.93 ± 0.28] and [1.21 ± 0.27] min), 8 weeks ([1.43 ± 0.30], [1.20 ± 0.33] and [1.72 ± 0.42] min) and 12 weeks of treatment ([2.12 ± 0.63], [1.90 ± 0.65] and [2.67 ± 0.82] min) as compared with the baseline ([0.63 ?0.14] , [0.60 ?0.14] and [0.62 ?0.11] min) (P < 0.05), even longer in group C than in A and B (P < 0.05). The CIPE-5 scores were markedly improved in groups A, B and C after 4 weeks ([15.17 ± 1.74], [14.57 ± 1.94] and [15.60 ± 1.63] min), 8 weeks ([17.13 ± 1.63], [16.37 ± 1.97] and [18.00 ± 1.05] min) and 12 weeks of intervention ([18.93 ± 1.57], [18.53 ± 1.67] and [20.00 ± 1.46] min ) as compared with the baseline ([12.57 ± 2.05], [13.20 ± 2.51] and [13.07 ± 2.01] min) (P < 0.05), even higher in group C than in A and B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSertraline hydrochloride combined with four-spot caressing, with its definite efficacy and rare adverse reactions, deserves wide clinical application in the treatment of primary PE.

Adult ; Coitus ; Ejaculation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Premature Ejaculation ; drug therapy ; Sertraline ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the change of schisandrin in Shengmaisan (SMS) and decomposed group.

METHODThe HPLC-UV was used to determine schisandrin in SMS and decomposed group.

RESULTTo extract Schisandra chinensis with ginseng, ophiopogon, general ginsenoside or ginsenoside Rg1 could promote the content of schisandrin.

CONCLUSIONSaponin is propitious to extracting the schisandrin.

Cyclooctanes ; analysis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Lignans ; analysis ; chemistry ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polycyclic Compounds ; analysis ; chemistry ; Schisandra ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To work out a qualitative diagnostic criterion for basic syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with primary liver cancer. METHODS: Based on the collection and analysis of related medical literature, clinical investigation, and experts' discussion, a preliminary qualitative diagnostic criterion for basic syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with primary liver cancer was formulated. Then it was used in clinic to be verified and revised repeatedly till it was improved to be a satisfied formal criterion. RESULTS: The basic syndromes listed in the qualitative diagnostic criterion for basic syndromes in patients with primary liver cancer consisted of two parts: excessive syndromes, including the syndromes of stagnation of qi, blood stasis, excess-heat and dampness, and deficient syndromes, including the syndromes of deficiency of qi, deficiency of blood, deficiency of yin and deficiency of yang. Each of the above syndromes could be diagnosed according to specific combination of its corresponding symptoms or signs. The clinical verification results showed that the total matching ratio was 73.92% between the diagnoses made according to the criterion and the diagnoses acquired from the experts' experience. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative diagnostic criterion for basic syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with primary liver cancer is coincident with the experts' clinical practice. However, it needs to be further studied.