ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Tai Chi exercise on somatic function of middle-aged females.Methods60 middle-aged females had a 16-week Taichi quan exercise and changes of blood pressure, resting heart rate and vital capacity were tested.ResultsAfter Tai Chi exercise, 60 women had results of resting heart rate and blood pressure decreased, and vital capacity increased obviously (P<0.05～0.01).ConclusionTai Chi exercise maybe an effect sport manner to improve the somatic function of middle-aged females.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of noncompaction ventricular myocardium under ultrasonic cardiography. Methods8 patients, 1 with non-symptom and other 7 with various cardiac dysfunctions and arrhythmias, accepted ultrasonic cardiography. ResultsNumerous ventricular trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses, as well as left ventricular dilatations were found under ultrasonic cardiography.ConclusionNoncompaction ventricular myocardium can be diagnosed with ultrasonic cardiography reliablely.

Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ )-induced apoptosis was demonstrated for the first time in cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs) isolated by retrograde heart perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer containing collagenase and hyaluronidase. ARVMs incubated with 10 μmol/L Ang Ⅱ for 48 h showed morphological features of apoptosis (cellular shrinkage, condensation of cytoplasm) and a characteristic "ladder" of DNA bands representing integer multiples of the intemucleosomal DNA length about 180～ 200 bp, which became more evident with further incubation up to 72 h. With shorter incubation time ( ≤24 h) or at a lower AngⅡ concentration ( ＜ 10μmol/L), such changes failed to occur. This effect of Ang Ⅱ could be abolished by losartan (10 μmol/L), verapamil (1 μmol/L) or staurosporine (10 nnol/L). The above results indicate that Ang Ⅱ -induced apoptosis in ARVMs may be mainly mediated by Ang Ⅱ type Ⅰ(AT1) receptors with [Ca2+ ]i and protein kinase C (PKC) playing a critical role.

Objective To identify seven species of Gynostemma BI.,including G.pentaphyllum,G. pentagynum,G.cardiospermum,G.longipes,G.yixingense,G.laxiflorum,and G.guangxiense,by in- ter-simple sequence repeat(ISSR)markers.Methods General DNA was isolated from leaves of the seven species in Gynostemma B1.by CTAB,57 primers constituted by ISSR were tested for PCR and sepharose electrophoresis.Results Fourteen primers amplified polymorphic bands,the amplification patterns of primers UBC-873 and UBC-895 were higher in terms of polymorphic and amplified band ratio.They are used to distinguish all the examined seven species.Conclusion ISSR-PCR Method provides a quick,reli- able molecular marker technique for the identification of different species of Gynostemma B1.

OBJECTIVETo study the antiulcer effects and the mechanism of Veronicastrum axillare (Sieb. et Zucc) Yamazaki (VAY) on ethanol induced gastric ulcer rats.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the ranitidine group, the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were administered with normal saline respectively. Rats in the ranitidine group were administered with 0.18% ranitidine suspension (at the daily dose of 0.027 g/kg) by gastrogavage. Those in the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group were administered with VAY at the daily dose of 2.8 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg, and 0.7 g/kg by gastrogavage, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The gastric ulcer model was established using absolute ethanol after the last gastrogavage. The ulcer index and the ulcer inhibitory rate were compared. The concentrations of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum and the homogenate of the gastric mucosa tissue were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the gastric ulcer index in the rest groups obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The ulcer index was dose-dependent with VAY (P < 0.01), with the highest gastric ulcer index shown in the high dose VAY group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of MDA and NO significantly increased in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue, the activity of SOD and the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue of rats in the model group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the MDA concentrations in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum NO content increased, the NO content in the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum SOD activity increased, the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue increased in the rest groups, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe water extract of VAY had significant effects on ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Its mechanisms might lie in reducing the generation of free radicals, promoting the oxygen free radical clearance, restraining lipid peroxidation, regulating and controlling the in vivo contents of NO and EGF.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)for the minimal submucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumor. Methods A total of 242 patients with early gastrointestinal tumor,who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection,were retrospectively analyzed. The accuracy of EUS diagnosis was calculated based on postoperative histopathological findings as the golden standard,and influencing factors were also analyzed. Results Overall diagnostic accuracy of EUS for sub-mucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumors was 72. 3%(175/ 242),with an overstaging rate of 21. 5%(52/ 242)and an understaging rate of 6. 2%(15/ 242).Tumor size(P = 0. 018)and location(P = 0. 005) had significant effects on the diagnostic accuracy of the minimal submucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumor by EUS. The overstaging rate in the lesion length of diameter>3 cm was higher than those of 3 cm or less[27. 0%(33/ 122)VS 15. 8%(19/ 120),P = 0. 807],the overstaging rates of early colonrectal and gastric cancer were also significantly higher than the understaging rate[ Colonrectum:12. 2%(9/ 74)VS 2. 7%(2/ 74),P= 0. 028;Stomach:26. 9%(28/ 104)VS 2. 9%(3/ 104),P = 0. 000]. Conclusion Endoscopic ultrasonography is of diagnostic value for the invasion depth of early cancer in gastrointestinal tract. However,precaution should be taken in large lesions and the tendency of overstaging in gastrointestinal tract.

In the present study, the effect of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) on the antiaggregating activity of nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial cells was investigated with the use of cultured bovine aortal endothelial cells (BAECs). The BAECs were placed in an aggregometer in contact with rabbit platelets after blocking cyclo-oxygenase with acetylsalicylic acid. Under this circumstance, the antiaggregating effect of endothelial cells was exclusively dependent on the release of NO, which was further confirmed by prevention of antiaggregating activity of BAECs with 1 mmol/L NG-Nitro-L-arginine. When this system was used, thrombin (0.1 U/ml) evoked 67.33±7.52% aggregation of rabbit platelets (2×108/ml). This effect was inhibited by NO derived from endothelial cells (1×105～1×106/ml) in a cell number dependent manner. HDLs (1 mg/ml), added into the system immediately before BAECs, enhanced this antiaggregating effect of NO. However, incubating BAECs with HDLs for an hour and removing the HDLs by centrifugation did not have the same effect, unless HDLs were present during aggregation. No direct effect of HDLs on platelet aggregation was observed. The above findings suggest that HDLs can enhance the antiaggregating effects of BAECs mediated by direct interaction with NO.

Objective To explore the expressions of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in acute liver failure mice induced by D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the correlation with miRNAs in the liver.Methods Forty clean grade Balb/C mice,with 32 in the model group and 8 in the control group were enrolled in the study.Liver failure was induced by intraperitoneally injection of D-GalN and LPS in mice of the model group,while mice of the control group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL 0.9 ％ sodium chloride solution.Serum and liver samples were collected at 0,3,5,7 hours following administration,and eight mice should be supplied to each sample,and changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and histopathology of the liver were observed.miRNA from both the serum and the liver was extracted,miRNA expression profile in the liver at 0,5,7 hours by locked nucleic acid (LNA)-miRNA microarray was analyzed and miRNA by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was detected.Means of the two groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and correlation analyses were performed using Pearson and Spearman correlation.Results Expression of miRNAs in the liver tissue changed significantly over time with the occurrence of acute liver failure in the mice.Twenty-one miRNAs were up-regulated and 27 were down-regulated,among which miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 were down-regulated while miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 were up-regulated.It was confirmed by the PCR assay that the expression of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in the liver gradually decreased,while those in the serum were up-regulated over time.However,the expressions of inflammation associated miRNA-155 and miRNA-146a were up-regulated both in the serum and the liver after administration.The expressions of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 were negatively correlated between serum and liver (r=-0.477,P=0.0089,r=-0.420,P=0.231),while the expressions of miRNA-155 in serum and liver were positively correlated (r=0.678,P=0.0001).Moreover,the expressions of miRNA-122 (r=0.571,0.554) and miRNA-1187 (r=0.471,0.542) were also positively correlated with serum levels of ALT and AST (all P＜0.05).Liver and serum levels of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 changed significantly at 5 hours after administration,which preceded the changes of ALT/AST.Conclusions The expressions of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in serum are well inversely correlated with the corresponding expressions in liver tissues during acute liver failure in mice.The changes of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in the serum precede those of ALT/AST.These data suggest that serum miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 might be the candidate serum biomarkers for early prediction of liver injury.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and complications of total hip replacement (THR) in novel femoral neck fracture,old femoral neck fracture, aseptic necrosis of femoral head and coxa degenerative osteoarthropathy. To provide instructions to surgical indications and treatment effects analysis.Methods One hundrde and four patients were divided into 4 groups by disease type: novel femoral neck fracture group (n = 32 ), old femoral neck fracture group (n = 22) ,aseptic necrosis of femoral head group (n =34) and coxa degenerative osteoarthropathy group (n = 16). These patients were followed-up for 12 - 144 months after THR, their Harris standard score and complications data, before and after operation, were analyzed retrospectively. Results After operation, the Harris standard scores were 92. 6 ± 5.8,90. 1 ± 5. 2,86. 3 ± 4. 6,81.9 ±4. 1 in novel femoral neck fracture,old femoral neck fracture,aseptic necrosis of femoral head and coxa degenerative osteoarthropathy groups respectively, which were significantly higher than the scores before operation (25.6±1.8,36.7±2.6,52.9±4.3,42. 1 ±3.8,Ps ＜0.05). Conclusion THR has good effects in the four types of diseases. Short length of stay and high healing rate are marked characteristics of THR. More attention shoud be paid to the complications of THR.