OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Astragalus Injection (ASI) combined with rat's mesenchymal stem cells transplantation (rMSCs) for repairing spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, named respectively by letters from A-F. they were treated respectively with none, PBS solution, ASI, rMSCs, and ASI + rMSCs, with the ASI administered via intraperitoneal injection and the rMSCs given by local injection to the spinal cord, on the 3rd day of operation. The condition of nerve function recovery was assessed on the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after treatment by scoring according to the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale. Besides, the pathological change of the injured spinal cord was observed and expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament-M (NF-M) in the BrdU-labeled rMSCs in the spinal cord tissue were examined by immune histochemistry.

RESULTSThe recovery of spinal cord in Group D, E and F was better than that in Group B and C, showing higher BBB scores. As compared with Group E, Group F showed a higher score of nerve function and a milder inflammatory cell infiltration with lessened tissue edema in the spinal cord and more active proliferation of gliacyte. Double-labelled immunohistochemical examination showed that the transplanted rMSCs were alive in the host's spinal cord, revealing the expressions of GFAP and NF-M from the 7th day after transplantation, which were migrating to the injured site. The amount of GFAP and NF-M positive cells in Group F was much more than that in Group E (P < 0.05)

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of rMSCs is an effective method in treatment of the spinal cord injury; ASI has the capacity for inducing rMSCs differentiated into neurons, and could synergize with rMSCs to promote the repairing of the spinal cord from injury.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Nerve Regeneration ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

Exercise fatigue is a physiological phenomenon not only for athletes, but also for astronauts. It is vital for athletes with hard training and astronauts with the heavy exercises for the mission in manned space flight to know how to solve the exercise fatigue. This article reviewed current commonly used TCM protective measures against fatigue.

BACKGROUNDStudies have confirmed that angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) has special advantages. We observed the effects of valsartan and metoprolol tartrate hydrchloride in treatment of DN patients with positive β1-adrenergic and anti-angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antibody.

METHODSThe epitopes of the second extracellular loop of β1 receptor (197 - 222) and AT1 receptor (165 - 191), were synthesized and used respectively to screen serum autoantibodies from patients with DN (n = 371, group A), diabetes mellitus (DM) without renal failure (n = 107, group B) and healthy blood donors (n = 47, control, group C) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Metoprolol tartrate 25 - 50 mg, three times per day, valsartan 160 mg, once a day, aspirin 100 mg, once a day, and nitrendipine 10 - 20 mg, three times per day, were given to DN patients with positive or negative autoantibodies. The cystatin C level and 24-hour urinary protein were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn DN patients, the positive rate of the autoantibodies against β1 receptors and AT1 receptor was 47.7% and 51.5%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in DM patients and healthy controls (all P < 0.01). Patients with anormalous cystatin C had higher positive rates of the autoantibodies than patients with normal cystatin C. Valsartan and metoprolol tartrate reduced proteinuria significantly (P < 0.01) in DN patients with positive autoantibodies.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings suggest that these autoantibodies against β1 and AT1-receptor may play important roles in the pathogenesis of DN. Valsartan and metoprolol tartrate are effective and safe in the treatment of DN.

Aged ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; immunology ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 ; immunology ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of systemic disseminated infection caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum (M.fortuitum), and improve the diagnostic rate and understanding of the disease.Methods One case of systemic disseminated M.fortuituminfection was reported, and analyzed in combination with relevant literatures.Results Patient was with multiple systemic involvement (including lung, lymph node, skin, joint), lymph node tissue culture was positive for M.fortuitum, patient was given clarithromycin+levofloxacin+linezolid for treatment, disease was remitted.Conclusion Systemic disseminated M.fortuituminfection is rare, and patient with GATA2 deletion and IFN-γautoantibody may be a potential mechanism, diagnosis is mainly based on pathological morphology and microbiological detection, but positive rate is low, diagnosis is difficult.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of specific functional gene ACE (I/D) variants of the renin-angiotensin system with essential hypertension (EH) and interaction between ACE (I/D) gene and risk factors for EH in a genetically homogenous Mongolia rural population of China.

METHODSIndividuals (n=1099) were recruited from general population of Kezuohouqi Banner in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region.

RESULTSThe association was found between ACE genotype DD plus ID and EH, with an interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and cigarette smoking in an additive model. Cigarette smoking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 7.10 to 1.16. Interaction between ACE genotype DD plus ID and alcohol drinking on EH appeared an additive model. Alcohol drinking index and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 1.66 to 1.09. BMI and ACE gene showed a low exposure-gene (LEG) effect on EH, with interaction indices from 6.15 to 2.49. Interactions between ACE genotype and WHR on EH showed a multiplicative model. In a short,there was an interaction between ACE gene and cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and BMI on EH, especially in a low dose-exposure effect

CONCLUSIONIt is important for individuals who carry ACE D allele gene to prevent EH, and furthermore, to prevent and control coronary heart disease, in a view of population-based prevention.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anthropometry ; Blood Glucose ; China ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mongolia ; ethnology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; genetics ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; blood