Changes of serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-9 in coal workers' pneumoconiosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the changes and significance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-9 in serum of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-9 were determined by sandwich ELISA in 188 cases of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (including 53 cases of coal pneumoconiosis, 67 cases of coal-silica pneumoconiosis and 68 cases of silicosis), 57 cases of 0+ miner (group 0+), 64 cases of healthy miner (dust exposed control) and 50 healthy people (healthy control) , and were further evaluated according to stage, complication, and the duration of exposure to dust in CWP group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median of serum MMP-9 in coal pneumoconiosis, coal-silica pneumoconiosis and silicosis were 17.16, 15.14 and 17.50 ng/ml respectively. The levels of serum MMP-9 in silicosis and coal-silica pneumoconiosis were lower than that in dust exposed control and 0+ group (P < 0.05), and there were no differences among 3 groups of CWP. The levels of serum TIMP-9 in coal pneumoconiosis, coal-silica pneumoconiosis and silicosis were (330.00 +/- 108.42), (312.04 +/- 120.09) and (366.81 +/- 135.50) ng/ml respectively, and compared with dust exposed control and 0+ group, it increased in silicosis and coal pneumoconiosis significantly (P < 0.05). The levels of serum TIMP-9 in silicosis were higher significantly than that of coal-silica pneumoconiosis (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the levels of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-9 in CWP according to CWP stage, complications and the duration of exposure to dust (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between age and the concentration of TIMP-9 in silicosis (r = 0.249, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was shown between the levels of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-9 only in dust exposed control (r = 0.294, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The levels of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-9 are associated with the harmful effect to miner resulted from dust. The apparent disturbance of MMP-9 and TIMP-9 might take part in the pathogenesis of CWP. Dynamic observation of its concentration in group 0+ and health miners might contribute to the prevention, early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CWP.</p>

Interaction of sodium loading and enalapril on renin mRNA and renin release in hydronephrotic mice / 生理学报

The present study investigated the interaction between sodium loading and enalapril on renin synthesis and secretion in hydronephrotic mice. Four different experimental groups (n=10 each) were used: sham-operated animals with normal diet (control group); sodium loading (SL group); enalapril treatment with normal diet (E group), and sodium loading combined with enalapril treatment (SL+E group). The hydronephrotic left kidney was induced by unilateral ureteral ligation in mice in the latter three groups. Plasma renin concentration (PRC) in the aorta, both the left and right renal veins, tissue renin concentration (TRC) and renin mRNA levels in the kidneys were examined under different procedures. In hydronephrotic mice treated with sodium loading, PRC in the left and right renal veins was lower than that in control mice (P<0.05), and TRC and renin mRNA levels in the hydronephrotic kidney were also suppressed (P<0.05). In hydronephrotic mice treated with enalapril, there were significant increases in PRC, TRC and renin mRNA levels in the hydronephrotic and right kidneys compared to the normal control (P<0.01). In hydronephrotic animals treated with sodium loading and enalapril, the increasing response was attenuated, and PRC in the hydronephrotic vein was similar to the level in the aorta. There was an interaction between sodium loading and enalapril on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in both hydronephrotic and normal kidneys. The mechanism in control of renin synthesis is independent of the macula densa, but the latter is critical in the control of renin secretion.

Chemical constituents of the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the chemical constituents of the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The constituents were separated and purified by silica gel chromatography and recrystalization, and their structures were identified by infrared, mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six compounds were isolated from the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla, whose structures were identified as beta-sitosterol, beta-daucosterol, ursolic acid, alpha-amyrin acetate, 3beta, 6beta, 23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, and 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, 28-dioic acid, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ursolic acid is the main component in the non-alkaloid fraction of Uncaria macrophylla. Alpha-amyrin acetate and 3beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-27, 28-dioic acid are isolated and characterized for the first time from this plant.</p>

The clinical observation of Qianlietai tablets on curing the chronic-abacterial-prostatitis / 中国基层医药

Objective To evaluate the clinical curative effect of Qianlietai tablets on curing the chronic-abac- terial-prostatitis.Methods A 6 to 24 months observation was performed of 45 cases of sufferers of chronic-abacterial prostatitis who were supposed to take Qianlietai tablets 3 times per day with 5 pieces each time.The before and after treatment change of the chronic abacterial prostatitis symptom grade and the numbers of leucocytes examinated in the normal inspection of prostate succus were compared,the side-effects of the treatment were observed as well.Re- suits After the treatment,there were 16 cured cases,15 effective cases,8 markedly effective cases and 6 non-effec- tive cases in the total 45 cases of sufferers.Conclusion Qianlietai tablets has a clear curative effect on curing chronic abacterial prostatitis with a good tolerance.