OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of scorpion and centipede on interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 in the small intestinal mucosa and joint injury of rats with collagen induced arthritis (CIA).

METHODSSixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the normal control group, the model group, the low dose scorpion and centipede group, the middle dose scorpion and centipede group, the high dose scorpion and centipede group, and the type II collagen treatment group. The joints' volume was measured 40 days after type II collagen (CII) induced rheumatoid arthritis model was established. The joint injury was observed by naked eyes. The expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in the small intestine tissue homogenate were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe joint injury score and volume of two hind limbs were obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group since the 23rd day (P < 0.01). Rats were accompanied with red, swollen, and deformed foot toes and ankle joints. Walking was even affected. Meanwhile, the joint injury score and volume of two hind limbs were obviously lowered by medicated with 0.4, 0.2, 0.1 g/kg scorpion and centipede, as well as CII on the 32nd day after medication (P <0.05, P < 0.01). The expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in the small intestine tissue homogenate were obviously lower in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, only the expression levels of IL-2 and IL-4 in the small intestine tissue homogenate of the high dose scorpion and centipede group and the type II collagen treatment group significantly increased. The expression level of IL-10 significantly increased in the high and middle dose scorpion and centipede groups, as well as the type II collagen treatment group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSScorpion and centipede could effectively release the joint injury of rats with CIA. Its mechanism might be correlated with increased expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 in the small intestine mucosa.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Joints ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Scorpions

To determine the optimum conditions of supercritical CO2 extraction of Xiaoyaosan, and establish its fingerprint by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the yield of extract were investigated, an orthogonal test was used to quantify the effects of extraction temperature, pressure, CO2 flow rate and time, and fingerprint analysis of different batches of extracts were by GC-MS. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: extraction pressure 20 MPa, extraction temperature 50 degrees C, CO2 flow rate 25 kg x h(-1), extraction time 3 h, and average yield 2.2%. The GC-MS fingerprint was established and 27 common peaks were found, whose contents add up to 81.89% of the total peak area. Among them, 21 compounds were identified, accounting for 53.20% of the total extract. The extraction process is reasonable and favorable for industrial production. The GC-MS method is accurate, reliable, reproducible, and can be used for quality control of supercritical CO2 extract from Xiaoyaosan.
Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of endometrial carcinoma in patients below 45 years of age.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from 53 patients with endometrial carcinoma below 45 years of age, who were divided into less than 40 year group (group A, 28 cases) and 40 to 45 year group (group B, 25 cases) and their clinical data were compared.

RESULTSA rate of 57.1% (16/28) of the patients in group A were infertile, and 78.5% (22/28) reported irregular menstruation. In group B, the infertility rate was 28.0% (7/25), and 48% (12/25) of the patients were obese, 56% (14/25) had abnormal vaginal bleeding, and 32% (8/25) had diabetes and hypertension. The two groups differed significantly in the infertility rate, number of pregnancies and deliveries and the incidences of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The pathological classification, grade of differentiation, pathological staging, depth of myometrial invasion, and cervical infiltration status were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). All the 53 patients received surgical interventions and follow. up for two years, during which 1 patients in group B had relapse.

CONCLUSIONPatients with endometrial carcinoma at 40 years of age or below often have infertility, and those over 40 years are exposed to such high-risk factors as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Its major clinical symptom of endometrial carcinoma is menstrual disorders. The differentiation, pathological staging, pathological classification of the malignancy are not associated with age in patients below 45 years of age. Early diagnosis often warrants more favorable prognosis.

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Infertility, Female ; complications ; Menstruation Disturbances ; complications ; Obesity ; complications ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) on the cell surface of highly invasive human prostate cancer cells PC3 and its possible molecular mechanisms of its effect on cell invasion through analyzing FAK/Src signaling pathway.

METHODSThe expression of cell surface HSP90 on PC3 cells was studied by immunofluorescence staining and surface biotinylation assay respectively. A specific HSP90 antibody was used to inhibit the cell surface HSP90. In vitro cell invasion was assessed by modified Boyden chambers. Phosphorylated FAK on tyr 397, 576, 577 and 925, and phosphorylated c-Src on tyr 416 were examined by Western blot assay. The association between FAK and c-Src was analyzed by immunoprecipitation. The effects of FAK knockdown by siRNA or Src kinases inhibitor PP2, with or without anti-HSP90 antibody, on PC3 cell invasion were also evaluated.

RESULTSA pool of HSP90 was detected on the cell surface of PC3 cells. A specific HSP90 antibody significantly retarded tumor cell invasion. Concomitant with this finding, targeting cell surface HSP90 significantly inhibited the phosphorylations of FAK and c-Src, and also the interactions between FAK and c-Src. FAK knockdown or PP2 dramatically suppressed cell invasion, however, anti-HSP90 antibody didn't further inhibit cell invasion.

CONCLUSIONSCell surface HSP90 promotes human prostate cancer cell invasion through a FAK/c-Src signaling, with may be a novel therapeutic target against metastatic tumors.

Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Phosphorylation ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; src-Family Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in China.Methods A total of 161 patients diagnosed as IPAH in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from June 2008 to June 2010 were retrospective analyzed.Results The mean diagnostic age was (33 ± 15 ) years old and 70.2％ patients were female. The median duration from symptoms onset to diagnostic right heart catheterization was 12 months.Incidence of NYHA class Ⅲ to Ⅳ was 56.5％ at diagnosis and the mean six minutes walk distance was limited to (398 ± 108) meters.Incidence of mild obstructive,restrictive and diffusing impairment in pulmonary function test was 7.8％,42.2％ and 82.2％ patients with IPAH,respectively. Right heart catheterization demonstrated severe elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure [ ( 63 ± 17 ) mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) ] and pulmonary vascular resistance index [ ( 25 ± 12 ) Wood U/m2 ] in this patient cohort.The response rate of acute pulmonary vasoreactivity testing was 8.7％ in this cohort. Compared with non-responders,responders to acute pulmonary vasoreactivity testing were younger and with less severe pulmonary hypertension. Among non-responders,89％ patients were treated by one specific anti-pulmonary arterial hypertension drug and 27％ patients received combined anti-pulmonary arterial hypertension medications.Conclusions Young female was predominantly involved in patients with IPAH in China.The diagnosis of IPAH is often made at advanced disease stage and majority patients with IPAH received specific anti-pulmonary arterial hypertension therapies in this patient cohort.

OBJECTIVETo identify the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of a bullous pemphigoid patient with acquired hemophilia A (AH-A). To identify FVIII binding epitope and IgG subclass of the FVIII inhibitor, and explore the molecular mechanism for AH-A pathogenesis.

METHODSPlasma FVIII activity( FVIII: C) was determined by one-stage assay, the titre of FYIII inhibitor by Bethesda Unit (BU). IgG purification of patient plasma or normal pooled plasma was finished by protein A-agarose column chromatography. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was assayed for uncovering FVIII inhibitor effect on FVIII in vivo. Combined Western blot analysis by anti-IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies was used to determine the relative concentration of patient' s IgG subclass. IgG subclass concentrations were quantified by nephelometric method. Solid-phase binding assay of FVIII and FVIII inhibitor, combined with Western blot was used to recognize the binding epitope at which the FVIII inhibitor bound to FVIII.

RESULTS(1) Plasma APTT value of patient was prolonged evidently and could not be corrected by normal pooled plasma. Patient's FVIII: C was < 1.5%. The titre of FVIII inhibitor in patient plasma was 147.8 BU. (2) The purified patient IgG was able to inhibit FVIII: C of normal pooled plasma significantly with a dose dependent manner, and the patient plasma could prolong rabbit plasma APTT markedly with a time dependent manner. (3) The FVIII inhibitor was predominantly then of IgG4 subtype with a minority IgG1, and the concentration of IgG4 and IgG1 in the patient was higher than that in normal. The FVIII inhibitor reacted with FVIII 44 x 10(3) fragment epitope.

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibiting effect of FVIII inhibitors on FVIII: C in the bullous pemphigoid patient with AH-A is determined and the IgG subclass of the FVIII inhibitor is identified. A binding epitope for the FVIII inhibitor is a FVIII 44 x 10(3) fragment. The results provides evidence for understanding the pathogenesis of AH-A.

Animals ; Epitopes ; Factor VIII ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; complications ; etiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; complications ; immunology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo further study the characteristics of drugs with neutral property in two-way application and conditioned dominance by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property in hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats.

METHODThe model of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, while the model of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by body freezing. Subsequently, 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 5 traditional Chinese medicines with heat property and 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property were selected for intervention to observe the changes in such indicators as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit and analyze the action characteristics of drugs with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among six of the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including Typhae Pollen, Sarcandrae Herba and Sappan lignum, could obviously increase the hemorheological indicators of both heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats; five traditional Chinese medicines with cold property, such as Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Leonuri Herba, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix et Rhizoma alone could ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.05); all of the five traditional Chinese medicines with heat property could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats (P < 0.01), among which Carthami Flos and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma could significantly ameliorate the hemorheological indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats. According to the average high-shear blood viscosity analysis, drugs with neutral property showed similar action characteristics to those with cold property in ameliorating hemorheology indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity; and traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics to those with heat property in improving the hemorheology indicators of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rat and better effect than those with heat property in reducing whole blood viscosity.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with cold property; but under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show the similar action characteristics to those with heat property. This indicates that traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property show both heat and cold properties under he conditions of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in the microcirculation in rats with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

METHODThe rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, and the rat model with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was built by the body freezing method. Ten traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including 5 with hot property and 5 with cold property, were selected for intervention to observe blood flow rate and flow state indicators in rat auricles and make a comparative analysis on action characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property.

RESULTANOVA showed that among the 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 6 such as Typhae Pollen, Sappan Lignum and Vaccariae Semen can obviously increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the above two models; all of the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but only Salvia miltiorrhiza can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, while other medicines showed no notable effect; among the 5 traditional Chinese medicines with hot property, Carthamus tinctorius and Ligusticum chuanxiong can increase the blood flow rate (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the rat models with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, but had no obvious effect to the blood flow rate in the rat models with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. According to the analysis on average blood flow rate, traditional Chinese medicines with natural and cold properties showed similar effect on heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with hot property; those with natural and hot properties showed similar effect and better effect in increasing blood flow rate than those with cold property.

CONCLUSIONUnder the condition of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with those with cold property; wile under the condition of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome, traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property have the similar action characteristics with the Chinese medicinal herbs with hot property. This indicates the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property to some extent.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of free graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty for hypospadias repair.

METHODSFifty-eight cases with different types of hypospadias including 10 subcoronal, 36 penile shaft, 9 scrotal, and 3 perineal were treated with free full-thickness skin graft or (and) buccal mucosal graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty. Of 58 cases, 45 were new cases, 13 had history of previous failed surgeries. Operative procedure included two stages: the first stage is to correct penile curvature (chordee), prepare transplanting bed, harvest and prepare full-thickness skin graft, buccal mucosal graft, and perform graft transplantation. The second stage is to complete urethroplasty and glanuloplasty.

RESULTSAfter the first stage operation, 56 of 58 cases (96.6%) were successful with grafts healing well, another 2 foreskin grafts got gangrened. After the second stage operation on 56 cases, 5 cases failed with newly formed urethras opened due to infection, 8 cases had fistulas, 43 (76.8%) cases healed well.

CONCLUSIONSFree graft transplantation two-stage urethroplasty for hypospadias repair is a kind of effective treatment with broad indication, comparatively high success rate, less complications and good cosmatic results, indicative of various types of hypospadias repair.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Skin Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods

Objective To investigate the effect of bile acids on altered synthesis and transport in the pathogenesis of colitis-related cholestasis and the underlying mechanisms in rats.Methods Adult Wistar male rats were randomly divided into normal group and model group,ulcerative colitis(UC) model was established by administration 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonicacid in intro-colonic,while rats in normal group were colonic administered with saline.UC model was evaluated by calculating disease activity index,histopathological score and myeloperoxidase activity.Serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP),glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT),alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were also determined.Moreover,the level of hepatic total bile acids,deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were determined by HPLC/MS.The hepatic protein expression of bile acids synthesis enzyme cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase(Cyp7a1) as well as bile acids export transporter multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2) were all investigated by Western-bolt.Results Compared to the normal group,disease activity index,histopathological score and myeloperoxidase activity in model group were all significantly increased to (4.51 ± 1.49),(1.36 ± 0.69) point,and (0.40 ± 0.07) U · mg-1,respectively (all P ＜ 0.05),suggesting the successful preparation of UC rat model.Compared to the normal group,the content of total bile acids and deoxycholic acid were all markedly increased to (85.50 ± 18.60) μmol · L-1 and (1.50 ± 0.68) ng · g-1 in model group,and the serum level of ALP and GGT were all significantly increased to (259.43 ±58.58) U · L-1and (1.50 ±0.68) U · L-1 in model group (all P ＜ 0.05),indicating the occurrence of cholestasis in model group of rats.Compared to the normal group,the protein expression of Cyp7a1 in the liver of model group was significantly increased to 0.72 ± 0.07 in gray value,but the protein expression of Mrp2 was markedly decreased to 0.66 ± 0.04 in gray value in model group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Acute colitis can induce intrahepatic cholestasis in rats,increased bile acids synthesis and decreased bile acids excretion may contribute to colitis-related cholestasis via up-regulating Cyp7a1 expression and down-regulating Mrp2 expression in the liver of colitis rats.