OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of Ginkgo biloba Tablet (GbT) on scavenger receptor A (SRA) of the aortic wall and changes of serum inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats, and to explore its new mechanism for fighting against atherosclerosis (AS).

METHODSTotally 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the GbT group, 15 rats in each group. Levels of blood glucose, blood lipids, blood calcium, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in all rats. The expression of SRA in the aortic wall of atherosclerotic rats was observed by immunohistochemical assay. The correlation between the expression of SRA and levels of in-flammatory factors was also observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously increased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C were significantly elevated (P < 0.01); neointimal areas were significantly thickened, increased intima percentage was significantly enlarged, narrowed lumen index was significantly reduced; levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly elevated in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, blood glucose and blood calcium obviously decreased (P < 0.05); levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in the GbT group. Aortic lumens were obviously narrower in the model group than in the GbT group (P < 0.05). SRA expressed at the aortic wall. The aforesaid 3 indices were significantly improved in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were significantly decreased in the GbT group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Serum levels of CRP, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were positively correlated with the percentage of SRA positive expression area (r = 0.701, 0.604, 0.581, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of inflammatory factors in atherosclerotic rats were elevated, and the expression of SRA in the aortic wall was enhanced. The expression of SRA was closely correlated with serum levels of inflammatory factors. GbT could decrease serum levels of inflammatory factors and inhibit the expression of SRA.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcium ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; metabolism ; Tablets ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage at the early stage.

METHODSFifty-four cases of small-amount cerebral hemorrhage were randomized into an acupuncture group and a conventional treatment group, 27 cases in each one. In the conventional treatment group, special care, oxygen therapy, nerve nutrition and symptomatic support were applied. In necessary, dehydrant and hypotensive drugs were prescribed for antihypertension, or surgery was given. In the acupuncture group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupuncture was applied at Quchi (LI 11), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3). Acupuncture was given at the admission, 4 h, 6 h and 12 h after disease onset respectively. Blood pressure was monitored in the whole procedure. 6 h and 24 h after disease onset, the cranial CT was re-examined. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), hematoma volume and neurological deficit score were compared at different time points between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) Blood pressure: from the admission to 12 h after disease onset, SBP, DBP and MAP were increased apparently in the conventional treatment group and increased slightly in the acupuncture group. The differences in SBP [(164.3 +/- 21.6) mmHg vs (158.6 +/- 21.5) mmHg] and MAP [(113.4 +/- 4.9) mmHg vs (106.7 +/- 6.1) mmHg] were significant between the two groups (both P < 0.05). From 12 h to 24 h after disease onset, compared with the conventional treatment group, SBP and MAP were decreased apparently in the acupuncture group [(147.3 +/- 21.6) mmHg vs (158.4 +/- 23.5) mmHg, (97.2 +/- 5.3) mmHg vs (106.6 +/- 5.1) mmHg, both P < 0.05)]. (2) Hematoma volume: from the admission to 6 h after disease onset, the volume was increased by (4.15 +/- 0.73) mL in the convertional treatment group and (2.67 +/- 0.33) mL in the acupuncture group, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05). From the admission to 24 h after disease onset, it was increased by (5.57 +/- 1.26) mL in the convertional treatment group and (3.14 +/- 1.18) mL in the acupuncture group, indicating the significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05). (3) Neurological deficit score: the score was increasing gradually in first 3 days after disease onset in the two groups. The score (38.39 +/- 6.84) in the acupuncture group on the first day was different significantly as compared with that (42.37 +/- 7.46) in the conventional treatment group (P < 0.05). On the 10th days, the score (24.68 +/- 5.42) in the acupuncture group was different significantly from that (29.74 +/- 7.36) in the convertional treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is no peak of blood pressure rising, and the continuous hemorrhagic volume is less in 24 h and neurological deficit score is improved in the acupuncture group. Acupuncture brings the positive significance in the treatment of cerebral hemorrhage at the early stage.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hematoma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Defecation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Short Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective To examine expression of PTEN gene in ovarian cancer cisplatin-sensitive cell line OV2008 cells and cisplatin-resistant cell line C13K cells,and evaluate the effect of wild-type PTEN gene on reversing cisplatin-resistance of C13K cells and underlying mechanisms.Methods The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in OV2008 and C13K cells were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot.Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing human wild-type PTEN gene was transfected into C13K cells by lipofectamine 2000.The expression of PTEN mRNA was monitored by RT- PCR and the expression of PTEN,protein kinase B(AKT),phospho-AKT(p-AKT)protein were analyzed by western blot in PTEN transfected and untransfected C13K cells.Proliferation and chemosensitivity of cells to cisplatin were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT),and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after treatment with cisplatin.Results(1)The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein(1.02 ?0.05,1.02?0.07)in OV2008 cells were significantly higher than those in C13K cells,which were 0.45 ?0.03 and 0.55?0.03 respectively(P

Objective To evaluate prourodynamic study and somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs)before and after operation of children with lipomyelomeningocele(LMMC)and its clinical significance.Methods Urodynamic study(UDS)and SEPs in 31 cases of LMMC who underwent microsurgical release within 1 week preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively were conducted.The 4 parameters used for UDS evaluation were bladder volume,compliance,detrusor activity and residual urine;parameters used for SEPs evaluation were latent period and amplitude.Results There was a statistics significant difference between operation and control group;the similar result was attented in the comparison of before and after operation,also in the comprison of the improved group and the group without improvement after operation.Conclusions UDS and SEPs investigation can provide guidance for the treatment of tethered cord syndrome(TCS)and evaluate clinical prognosis.These cases with the severity changing in UDS and somatosensory shall be avoided unnecessary action in operation.

0.05).There was significant difference between normal control group and group A and B(P0.05 ).Neuron counting was significantly higher in group B than that in group A 4 weeks after treatment(P

Objective To investigate the effect of intra-articular carboxymethylated ehitosan(CM- CTS)injection on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)expression in cartilage at the early stage of os- teoarthfitis(OA).Methods Thirty-two white rabbits were underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and were randomly divided into 4 groups 5 weeks after transection.Rabbits of group A re- ceived 0.3 ml of 2% high molecular weight CMCTS(H-CMCTS)once every two weeks.Rabbits in group B were treated using 2% low molecular weight(L-CMCTS)CMCTS at:the same intervals.Group C rabbits were injected intra-articularly with 0.3 ml of 1% sodium hyaluronate(Na-HA)once a week.Animals of group D were not injected.At sacrifice,11 weeks following surgery,the expression of iNOS in cartilages was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)methods.Results Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed that the level of iNOS expression of cartilage in CMCTS in- jection groups was lower than that in Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.There was no significant difference in iNOS expression between the two different molecular weight CMCTS injection groups. No signifi- cant difference of iNOS expression in cartilage was found between Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.Conclusion CMCTS suppresses iNOS expression in cartilage during the early stage of OA.Na-HA treatment has no effect on iNOS expression in cartilage.

Objective To discuss the short-term clinical effect including functional change of lipiodol- arsenic trioxide emulsion on the primary hepatic carcinoma.Methods Fifty-two patients undergone arterial chemoemblization were selected and then randomly divided into two groups:treatment group(n=27)and control group(n=25).Patients in treatment group were treated with lipiodol-arsenic trioxide,while those in control group treated with mitomycin,epirubicin,cisplatin or lipiodol.Clinical symptoms and six liver function parameters were observed and analized.Results The clinical symptoms of patients in treatment group improved much better than those in control group,and the liver function impairment of patients in treatment group also decreased more than those in control group.Conclusions Lipiodol-arsenic trioxide is an effective and safe intervention-therapeutic embolization material for primary hepatic carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) on apoptosis and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell lines. MethodsIn vitrocultured cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line was exposed to 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14μg/ml HPD with 5, 10, and 15 J/cm2 light intensity, respectively. The optical density at 450 nm of the QBC939 cells was measured by CCK8 assay and its growth inhibition ratio was calculated. Flow cytometry and transwell migration assay were applied to detect cell apoptosis and invasion respectively. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses were used to detect expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to examine the secretion of VEGF-C and COX-2 in QBC939 cells. Results Exposure to HPD-PDT can significantly suppress the growth of QBC939 cells (allP<0.05). HPD-PDT can promote apoptosis of QBC939 cells at the early stage. When the concentration of HPD was 2μg/ml and light irradiation was 5 J/cm2, HPD-PDT had no obvious inhibitory effect on QBC939 cell growth, but can obviously inhibit cell invasion, and significant difference was observed between the HPD-PDT and control groups (P<0.01). The HPD-PDT can reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF-C, COX-2, and PCNA, and decrease the secretion of VEGF-C and COX-2 in QBC939 cells. Conclusion PDT could promote apoptosis and inhibit growth and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma cells QBC939in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of nitric oxide synthase III (NOS III) mRNA in the heart, aorta, kidney and liver of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-four total RNA samples were obtained from the tissues of ventricle, aortic smooth muscle, kidney and liver of SHR and normotensive rats (Wistar-Kyoto rats, WKY). RNA array was used to determine the mRNA levels of NOS III of the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with WKY, the systolic blood pressure increased significantly in SHR at 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old [(158.50 +/-7.69 vs 108.67 +/-5.89) mmHg, (174.33 +/-4.46 vs 128.50 +/-4.97) mmHg, (198.00 +/-13.45 vs 142.00 +/-3.58) mmHg, (216.67 +/-8.91 vs 141.17 +/-4.92) mmHg, P<0.01], and the ventricle/body weight ratio was significant higher at 10-week-old and 12-week-old [(4.08 +/-0.17 vs 3.59 +/-0.11, 4.05 +/-0.18 vs 3.40 +/-0.19)mg/g, P<0.01]. In the heart tissue and the kidney, the mRNA levels of NOS III were significantly increased at 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old (1.12 +/-0.18 vs 0.90 +/- 0.15, 1.46 +/- 0.34 vs 1.06 +/-0.18, 1.66 +/- 0.31 vs 1.21 +/- 0.30, 1.98 +/- 0.40 vs 1.31 +/-0.38, P <0.05) and at 4-week-old, 6-week-old, 8-week-old, 10-week-old and 12-week-old (1.10 +/- 0.21 vs 0.81 +/-0.11, 1.28 +/-0.18 vs 0.95 +/-0.13,1.31 +/-0.23 vs 0.99 +/-0.23, 1.70 +/-0.30 vs 1.08 +/-0.25, 1.83 +/-0.33 vs 1.15 +/-0.20, P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. There was no significant difference of the NOS III expression in the liver and no significant signals were detected in the aortic smooth muscle.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide the evidence of the increased expression of NOS III in different tissues in SHR and suggests the progressive nature of essential hypertension.

Animals ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Kidney ; enzymology ; Liver ; enzymology ; Male ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY