Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; methods

Ca2+ is an important positive ion in the living body. Recently, there have been quite a few reports about the function of Ca2+ in sperm. Calcium is considered as a regulator of sperm motility, a participant in sperm capacitation, and an essential second messenger for acrosome reaction. This paper reviews the relationship of Ca2+ with sperm function.
Acrosome Reaction ; physiology ; Animals ; Calcium ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sea Urchins ; Second Messenger Systems ; physiology ; Sperm Capacitation ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianlie Huichun capsule on the microstructure and ultranstructure of prostate glandular tissue in the model rat.

METHODHynertophy of prostate model rat was established by injecting testosterone to gelding male rats. After having been fed with Qianlie Huichun capsule for 30 days, the rats were killed and prostate tissues were resected for pathomorphological studies with microscope and electromicroscope, and the diameter of glandular lumer and the height of glandular epithelial cells were measured under the microspcope for different groups of rats.

RESULTIn the model groups, the glandular epithelial cells mutiplycated notably, showing stratified and pseudostratified cells that made the glandular lumer cramped. Under the electromicroscope, the glandular epithelial cells became high columnor and the rough endoreticulum extremely expanded. But in treatment groups, the change of the diameter of the glandular lumer and the height of the glandular epithelial cells were less remarkable than those in model groups. So the differerence between the model group and the treatment groups was remarkable (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQianlie Huichun capsule can depress the glandular epithelialceu multiplication of prostate gland in model rats.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostate ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the etiology and clinical symptoms of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) and explore its diagnostic and treatment approaches. Method Of the 19 patients with DAVFs, 17 were examined by the microcather technique under close monitoring by cerebral digital substraction angiography (DSA), and were treated by embolization method with several prepared materials. The other 2 cases were managed by way of compression of the affected carotid artery. Results Of the 19 patients, 10 were cured, and the symptoms of 4 were significantly improved. Four patients showed gradual improvement after treatment, and 1 died. Conclusion The embolization method combined with compression of the affected carotid artery was effective in managing dural arteriovenous fistula.

Objective To investigate the etiology and clinical symptoms of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) and explore its diagnostic and treatment approaches. Method Of the 19 patients with DAVFs, 17 were examined by the microcather technique under close monitoring by cerebral digital substraction angiography (DSA), and were treated by embolization method with several prepared materials. The other 2 cases were managed by way of compression of the affected carotid artery. Results Of the 19 patients, 10 were cured, and the symptoms of 4 were significantly improved. Four patients showed gradual improvement after treatment, and 1 died. Conclusion The embolization method combined with compression of the affected carotid artery was effective in managing dural arteriovenous fistula.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the preparation process of gemcitabine polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (GCTB- PBCA-NP).

METHODSAccording to the particle size, the entrapment efficiency and the loading quantity of GCTB-PBCA-NP, single factor analysis was carried out to optimize the component composition and preparation process based on an orthogonal design.

RESULTSThe mean particle size of the NP was (112-/+9) nm with an entrapment efficiency of (54.12-/+2.43)% and drug loading of (11.08-/+0.89)%.

CONCLUSIONAn optimized nanoparticular drug delivery system is obtained by emulsion polymerization.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Enbucrilate ; chemical synthesis ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry

The Notch signaling pathway has been implicated in the regulation of cell-fate decisions such as differentiation of embryo stem cells and neural stem cells into neurons. We cultured human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro and induced hMSCs to differentiate into neural cells by beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME), DMSO and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA). Immunocytochemistry was utilized to detect neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and Nissl body, and flow cytometry was used to determine cell growth phases. The expressions of signal molecules involved in the Notch pathway such as Notch1, Jagged 1 (JAG1), presenilin 1 (PS1) and hairy and enhancer of split 1(HES1) were observed by RT-PCR and immunofluorescent techniques. The results were as follows: (1) Before induction, the percentage of hMSCs at G(0)/G(1) was 58.5%, and the percentage at S+G(2)/M was 41.5%. After induction, the percentage of hMSCs at G(0)/G(1) increased to 73.1%, 76.2% and 78.1%, respectively on days 2, 4 and 6, and the percentage at S+G(2)/M decreased to 26.8%, 24.8% and 21.9%, respectively; The percentage of NSE-positive cells reached (77+/-0.35) %; Nisslos staining was positive in cytoplasm. (2) Notch1 and JAG1 were both expressed in hMSCs before and after induction, but the mRNA expressions of both Notch1 and JAG1, detected by RT-PCR, decreased obviously after induction(P<0.05). Notch1 mRNA/beta-actin was 1.157, 0.815, 0.756 and 0.570, and JAG1 mRNA/beta-actin was 0.437, 0.350, 0.314 and 0.362, respectively, on days 0, 2, 4 and 6 after induction. The Notch pathway activation participant PS1 mRNA and Notch pathway target gene HES1 mRNA also decreased apparently after induction (P<0.05), and their mRNA/beta-actin was 0.990, 0.449, 0.441, 0.454 and 0.370, 0.256, 0.266, 0.240 on days 0, 2, 4 and 6, respectively. These observations indicate that the expressions of Notch signal molecules were suppressed when hMSCs were induced to differentiate into neural cells. Based on these findings, we propose that low level of Notch signaling activation may contribute to neural cell differentiation.
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Flow Cytometry ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Jagged-1 Protein ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; Receptors, Notch ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor HES-1

Background A fatal complication after liver transplantation is anastomotic embolization of the hepatic artery. In order to solve this problem, the portal venous arterialization (PVA) is used to reconstruct the hepatic arterial blood flow. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of PVA on rats with acute occlusion of hepatic artery.Methods Rat PVA models were established and then randomly divided into Group 1 (control group), Group 2 (jaundice group), Group 3 (bile duct recanalization group), and Group 4 (portal vein arterilization group). Recanalization of the common bile duct and PVA were performed 5 days after bile duct ligation in the rats. The influence of the PVA on general conditions, hepatic changes of structure and function, portal vein pressure and hepatic micrangium were observed for one month.Results Five days after common bile duct ligation the serum bilirubin, transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly increased. Compared with group 1, there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). These rats then underwent bile duct recanalization and PVA. After a month, the liver functions and microscopic structures completely returned to normal and, compared with group 1, there was no statistically significant difference in portal vein pressure (P >0.05). Vascular casting samples showed that hepatic sinusoids were slightly thicker and more filled than normal ones and although they had some deformations, the hepatic sinusoids were still distributed around the central vein in radial form.Conclusion Within a month after operation, bile duct recanaiization and PVA do not show obvious adverse effects on liver hemodynamics and hepatic micrangium, and the liver function and microscopic structure can return to normal.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianlie Huichun capsular on Fas expression and cell apoptosis of prostate gland tissue in the model rat.

METHODHypertrophy of prostate model rat was established by injecting testosterone to gelding male rats. After being treated with Qianlie Huichun ig 30 days, the rats were killed and prostate glands were resected for examination. The Fas expression was examined by immunobistochemical SABC. The cell apoptosis and the peak of cell apoptosis in the prostate gland of the rats were examined by flow cytometry. Compared with model group, the weight of prostage gland tissue in groups treated with Qianlie Huichun capsular was light (P < 0.01).

RESULTCompared with model group, the Fas expression in all treatment groups increase(P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with normal and model groups, cell apoptosis in all treatment groups increase at different level(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe Qianlie Huchun capsular increases the Fas expression and cell apoptosis of model rats, and shows a definite treatment effect on the hypertrophy of prostate by promoting the apoptosis of prostate cell.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthropods ; chemistry ; Capsules ; Cuscuta ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fallopia japonica ; chemistry ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of Chinese medicine (CM) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a prospective cohort study.

METHODSA total of 334 AMI patients from January 2007 to March 2009 were consecutively enrolled, and were assigned to a treatment group (169 cases) treated with combined therapy (CM for at least one month and Western medicine) and a control group (165 cases) with Western medicine alone. Clinical data including age, gender, smoking, medical history, infarction area, heart functional classification, CM syndrome scores, blood-stasis syndrome score, primary end-point (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization) and secondary end-point (ischemic stroke, rehospitalization due to angina, heart failure and shock), were collected. CM syndrome scores, blood-stasis syndrome score, primary end-point and secondary end-point were collected during the 6-month follow-up. Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival analysis. The multifactor analysis was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTSAt the end of 6-month the CM syndrome score and bloodstasis syndrome score in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), especially the symptoms of chest pain, spontaneous perspiration and insomnia. Rehospitalization rate due to angina during the 6-month follow-up in the treatment group (2.96%) was lower than that in the control group (7.88%, P<0.05). Kaplan- Meier survival curve showed that event-free cumulated survival of rehospitalization due to angina during the 6-month follow-up in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (Log rank 4.700, P=0.03). Cox regression analysis showed that heart dysfunction [hazard ratio (HR)=1.601, 95% CI=1.084-2.364, P=0.018] and diabetes mellitus (HR=1.755, 95% CI=1.031-2.989, P=0.038) were hazard factors to end-point, whereas CM (HR 0.405, 95% CI=0.231-0.712, P=0.002), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, HR=0.352, 95% CI=0.204-0.607, P<0.001) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (HR=0.541, 95% CI=0.313-0.936, P=0.028) were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONSCM therapy could decrease CM syndrome scores and blood-stasis syndrome score, reduce the rehospitalization rate during 6-month follow-up due to angina. Heart dysfunction and diabetes mellitus were hazard factors to end-point, whereas CM, PCI and ACE inhibitors were protective factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; complications ; epidemiology ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Research Design ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome