Meta analysis on acceptance rate of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in China / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To systematically evaluate the acceptance of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China, so as to provide reference for the promotion of preventive drug use before human immunodeficiency virus exposure in China. Methods: By searching the databases of China national knowledge infrastructure, VIP database, Wanfan knowledge service platform, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and The Cochrane Library with key words of "men who have sex with men" "pre-exposure prophylaxis" "PrEP" and "MSM". The literature on the willingness of Chinese MSM population to accept PrEP was systematically collected, and the data of the literature meeting the inclusion criteria were extracted for Meta analysis. Results: A total of 12 articles were selected in this study, including 6 articles in English and 6 in Chinese. The score of bias risk assessment of eligible articles was 14-18, which was more than 70% of the total score. The total number of samples was 11 269. The overall acceptance rate of PrEP was 0.77(95%CI:0.71-0.82). In subgroup analysis, the acceptance rates of different nationalities, marriage, household registration, age, education background, income, sexual orientation, sexual behavior and awareness of PrEP were statistically significant. Conclusion: In general, the acceptance rate of PrEP in MSM population is higher, but the awareness rate is low. There are differences in the acceptance rate among different groups.

Diagnosis and treatment of aortopulmonary window associated with severe pulmonary hypertension / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To study the diagnosis and treatment of aortopulmonary window (APW) associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. Methods    The clinical data of 23 patients with APW undergoing surgical treatment in The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 9 male and 14 female patients. The age was 3-132 (4.63±2.14) months. The weight was 3.3-35.0 (17.3±3.6) kg. Results    Windows were situated in the proximal of semilunar valve (type Ⅰ) in 8 patients, and distal of the aorta (type Ⅱ) in 14 patients, from proximal to distal (type Ⅲ) in only 1 patient. Eleven patients were isolated APW, the others were combined with cardiac defects. The mean pulmonary artery pressure was 68.4±7.5 mm Hg. All patients underwent surgical correction under general anesthesia and hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients were discharged uneventfully, with an average follow-up time of 4 years. The patients showed good outcomes and no residual shunt after surgery, and the pulmonary artery pressure decreased to normal. Conclusion    APW is an uncommon congenital cardiac anomaly. The clinical presentation is an excessive left-to-right shunt, and most patients present early in life. Development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular resistance is usually rapid. Operative treatment is indicated as soon as the diagnosis is established, regardless of the patient’s age, and most patients after surgery have a good long-term outcome.

Effect of ferroptosis on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in diabetic rats model / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of ferroptosis on hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in diabetic rats model.Methods:Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group (Sham), hepatic ischemia reperfusion group (HIRI), diabetes mellitus group (DM), diabetes mellitus + hepatic ischemia reperfusion group (DM+ HIRI). The diabetic rat model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat and high-sugar feed for four consecutive weeks combined with intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg 1% streptozotocin, and on this basis, the hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury model was established by local hepatic blood flow occlusion. ELISA assay was used to detect insulin content, liver function and serum lipid metabolism biomarkers. Chemiluminescence method was used to detect liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lipoxygenase (LOX-1) contents. HE staining was used to evaluate the pathological changes of liver tissue structure, and Western blotting was used to detect the ferroptosis-related protein expression of ACSL4 and GPX4.Results:Compared with Sham group, the level of fasting blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance index, serum TC, TG and liver PUFA content of DM group were increased significantly ( P<0.05), HE staining showed there were a large number of fatty degeneration of hepatocytes in DM group, and extensive ballooning and necrosis of hepatocytes in DM+ HIRI group. Compared with HIRI group, level of serum TC, TG, ALT, AST and the liver PUFA and LOX-1 in DM+ HIRI group were significantly increased [TC (5.87±0.76) vs (1.34±0.2) mmol/L, TG (2.93±0.47) vs (0.71±0.34) mmol/L, ALT (339.5±40.09) vs (155.17±18.53) U/L, AST (325.50±37.52) vs (102.39±22.68) U/L, PUFA (21.58±3.01) vs (8.12±0.94) mg/g, LOX-1 (200.81±26.03) vs (73.34±10.66) U/m ] ( P<0.05). Compared with HIRI group, the protein expression of ACSL4 in DM+ HIRI group was up-regulated [(0.46±0.06) vs (1.02±0.11)], while the expression of GPX4 was down-regulated [(0.43±0.07) vs (0.14±0.02)] significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The tolerance of DM rats to hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury was significantly reduced, which may be related to hepatic abnormal lipid metabolism and ferroptosis.

Efficacy of alectinib for ALK-positive NSCLC brain metastases / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To investigate the effect of alectinib in the treatment of brain metastases from anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Thirty-four cases of ALK-positive NSCLC in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, between August 2016 to October 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. Thirteen cases received first-line single drug therapy (600 mg PO bid) of Alectinib. 7 cases (53.8%) were male, 6 cases were female (46.2%), the median age was 51 (35-72). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to examine progression-free survival (PFS). Results: The median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the alectinib group was 24.5 months, and the adverse drug reactions were mild. Conclusions: The use of alectinibas first-line treatment after the local treatment of measurable intracranial lesions significantly increased the PFS of patients with brain metastases from ALK-positive NSCLC.

Progress in targeted therapy for brain metastasis from non-small-cell lung cancer positive for ALK gene fusion / 中国肿瘤临床

The incidence of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is approximately 2%-7%. In cases of lung cancer with this gene mutation, the probability of brain metastasis, which seriously affects quality of life and shortens survival time, is higher. In recent years, survival time has significantly increased among ALK gene fusion-positive NSCLC patients with brain metastasis owing to continuous advances in the development of ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This paper reviews the progress in the research on ALK-TKI use in the treatment of brain metastasis from NSCLC.

Association of Estrogen Receptor 1 Genetic Polymorphisms with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion Risk / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Estrogen is one of the most important reproductive steroidal hormones and plays a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy, and its function is mediated by estrogen receptor 1(ESR1). The polymorphisms of ESR1 were involved in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA); however, the association between ESR1 polymorphisms and RSA remains controversial. The present meta-analysis was aimed to clarify the association between ESR1 PvuII (-397C/T, rs2234693) and XbaI (-351A/G, rs9340799) polymorphisms and the risk of RSA.@*Methods@#All the included articles were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Med Online Database up to January 3, 2018. Data were processed in the Stata 12.0 software. The odds ratios (OR s) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI s) were calculated using fixed-effects models (FEM)/random-effects models (REM).@*Results@#Seven case-control studies with 836 cases and 1164 controls were included in the study. Generally, the ESR1 polymorphisms were not associated with RSA in any of the genetic analysis models. However, it was found that as rs9340799 polymorphism was related to increased risk of RSA in non-Asian group in the homozygous genetic model (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.05-5.50, P = 0.039). Moreover, in Asian group, rs9340799 polymorphism was found to be related to decreased RSA risk in both the heterozygous model (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.33-0.85, P = 0.009) and the dominant genetic model (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30-0.98, P = 0.042).@*Conclusions@#Generally, there was no significant association between the polymorphisms of ESR1 and the risk of RSA. However, subgroup analysis indicated that ESR1 rs9340799 polymorphism was related to increased RSA risk in the non-Asian group while associated with decreased RSA risk in Asian group.

Anti-arrhythmic effects of taurine-magnesium coordination compound on torsades de pointes / 中国应用生理学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the effect of taurine magnesium coordination compound (TMCC) on torsades de pointes (TdP) in isolated guinea pig hearts.@*METHODS@#Healthy male guinea pigs weighting 250~300 g were randomly divided into 4 groups:①TdP model group (=7):Isolated hearts were perfused by normal K-H solution 20 minutes, then perfused by slowly activated delayed rectifier potassium current(IKs) blocker 10mol/L Chromanol 293B under hypokalemic solution(1.8 mmol/L) to establish TdP model;②~④ TdP model + TMCC group (=6):Isolated hearts were perfused by normal K-H solution for 20 minutes, then perfused by IKs blocker 10mol/L Chromanol 293B under hypokalemic solution(1.8 mmol/L) for 60 minutes, at the same time TMCC which concentration was 1, 2, 4 mmol/L was administered respectively by Langendorff retrograde aortic perfusion method. Cardiac surface electrocardiogram of guinea pigs was collected and recorded by Biopac electrophysiological recorder. Incidence of TdP, transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), instability of QT interval were acquired from Lead Ⅱ electrocardiograph (ECG) wave forms to describe the effect of TMCC on TdP model. Datas were acquired at the time of 20 min and pre-TdP, in case there was no TdP observed, a value of 60 min was entered for calculation purpose.@*RESULTS@#Incidence of TdP in TdP model group was 6/7. TdP incidence could be decreased significantly by 1, 2, 4 mmol/L TMCC, and was 5/6, 1/6, 0/6 respectively. Compared with the pre-drug, Chromanol 293B under hypokalemic solution in TdP model group increased TDR(corrected) evidently(0.05). Compared with the TdP model group, 2, 4 mmol/L TMCC could evidently decrease the instability of QT interval induced by Chromanol 293B under hypokalemic solution(<0.05). During the establishment of TdP model, P waves in more than one cardiac cycle continuously were disappeared in ECG. However, P wave could always be seen independent in ECG acquired from TdP model + TMCC group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#TMCC can play the role against TdP through decreasing TDR and instability of QT interval, and inhibiting early after depolarization(EAD).

Ethanol extract of Ilex hainanensis Merr. exhibits anti-melanoma activity by induction of G/S cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate anti-melanoma effect of ethanol extract of Ilex hainanensis Merr. (IME) and elucidate its underlying mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six tumor-bearing mice were randomized into 6 groups (n=6) as follows: model group, IME 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg groups and dacarbazine (DTIC) 70 mg/kg group. The mice in the IME treatment groups were intragastrically administered with IME 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg per day, respectively. The mice in the DTIC group were intraperitoneally injected with DTIC 70 mg/kg every 2 days. The drug administration was lasting for 14 days. The cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dime-thylthylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell cycle and apoptosis. The gene and protein expressions of nuclear factor κB-p65 (NF-κB-p65), Bcl-2, B-cell lymphomaextra large (Bcl-xL) and Bax were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Caspases-3, -8, and -9 activities were detected using the colorimetric method. In addition, a B16-F10 melanoma xenograft mouse model was used to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of IME in vivo. Furthermore, a survival experiment of tumor-bearing mice was also performed to evaluate the possible toxicity of IME.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IME significantly inhibited the proliferation of B16-F10 cells (P<0.01). Flow cytometric analysis showed that IME induced G/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (both P<0.01). IME inhibited activation of NF-κB, decreased the gene and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and increased the gene and protein expressions of Bax (all P<0.01). In addition, IME induced the activation of Caspases-3, -8, and -9 in B16-F10 cells. The study in vivo showed that IME significantly reduced tumor volume (P<0.01), and the inhibitory rate came up to 68.62%. IME also induced large areas of necrosis and intra-tumoral apoptosis that correlated with a reduction in tumor volume. Survival experiment showed that treatment with IME for 14 days significantly prolonged survival time and 20% of mice in the IME 200 mg/kg group were still alive until the 50th day. Notably, IME showed no apparent side-effects during the treatment period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IME exhibited significant anti-melanoma activity in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that IME might be a promising effective candidate with lower toxic for malignant melanoma therapy.</p>

Investigations on effect of taurine-magnesium coordination compound against SQT2 in isolated hearts of guinea pig / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of taurine-magnesium coordination compound (TMCC) on elec-trocardiogram of isolated guinea pig hearts, hoping to describe a primary research on its characteristic of anti-short QT syndrome. Methods The isolated guinea pig heart was retrograde perfused using Langendorff tech-nique. In order to determine the effects of TMCC on QT interval, transmural dispersion of repolarization, effective refractory period, instability of RR interval and instability of QT interval in the presence of potassi-um channel opener pinacidil, the electrocardiogram of isolated guinea pig hearts was recorded using Biopac physiological recorder. Results The shortened QT in-terval and the effective refractory period induced by pinacidil could be prolonged by TMCC; the increased transmural dispersion of repolarization induced by pinacidil could be decreased by TMCC; the increased instability of RR and QT interval induced by pinacidil could be decreased by TMCC. Conclusion TMCC has the effects of anti-SQT2 by prolonging the QT inter-val and the effective refractory period, reducing the transmural dispersion of repolarization and instability.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Compound Muni Ziqi Granules in the Adjuvant Treatment of Chloasma: A Systematic Review / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate therapeutic efficacy and safety of Compound muni ziqi granules in the adjuvant treatment of chloasma, and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical treatment. METHODS; Retrieved from Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD), China Scientific Journal Database (CSJD), Wanfang database, Medline and Embase, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about therapeutic efficacy (total response rate, cure rate, the decrease level of E2, FSH and LH in serum) and safety of Compound muni ziqi granules alone or combined with routine drug (trial group) vs. routine drug (control group) in the treatment of chloasma were collected. Meta-analysis was conducted by using Rev Man 5. 3 statistical software after data extraction of clinical studies meeting inclusion criteria and quality evaluation with Cochrane systematic evaluator manual 5. 1. 0. RESULTS: Totally 12 RCTs were enrolled, involving 1 100 patients. Results of Meta-analysis showed that total response rate [OR=2. 84, 95％CI(2. 20, 3. 67), P<0. 001], cure rate [OR=2. 11, 95％CI(1. 59, 2. 79),P<0. 001],decrease level of Ez [OR=-98. 64, 95％ CI (-110. 84, -86. 44), P <0. 001], decrease level of FSH [OR=-1. 85, 95％CI(-2. 58,-1. 11),P<0. 001] and decrease level of LH [OR= - 5. 85, 95％ CI (-6. 83, -4. 87), P<0. 001] in trial group were significantly better than control group, with statistical significance. In trial group, a few patients suffered from the increase of menstruation, the decrease of menstruation, temporary pigmentation and transient burnout; but all symptoms did not affect the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Compound muni ziqi granules show definite clinical efficacy and good response rate in the adjuvant treatment of chloasma with mild ADR.

Effect of hypoxia on expressions of MDR1 and MRP2 in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes in the physiological parameters and gene expression of two drug efflux transporters MDR1 and MRP2 in the small intestine, liver and kidney of rats exposed to acute hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, hypoxia for 24 h group and hypoxia for 72 h group. Blood samples were obtained from the abdominal aorta of the rats after the exposure for analyzing the physiological indexes. The mRNA expressions of MDR1 and MRP2 were determined using Real-Time PCR, and their protein expressions were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The physiological parameters of the rats in hypoxia group were significantly changed compared with those in the control group. The expressions of MDR1 and MRP2 mRNA and proteins in the small intestine, liver and kidney were significantly increased in rats with hypoxic exposure than in the control rats (P<0.05 or 0.01). As the hypoxic exposure prolonged, the two transporters showed different patterns of variation in different tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute hypoxia affects the physiological parameters and expression levels of MDR1 and MRP2, thus causing changes in the metabolism of the substrates of the transporters. These changes may play an important role in the pharmacokinetics of drugs at a high altitude.</p>

Spinal Cord Kinking in Thoracic Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of thoracic myelopathy. This study was to describe a rare clinical entity of spinal cord kinking (SK) in thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 95 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence and location of SK were determined using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical presentation and radiological characteristics in patients with SK were analyzed. Posterior en bloc laminectomy with OLF was performed, and the surgical results were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SK was found in seven patients (7.4%) based on preoperative MRI. The patients included one male and six females with an average age of 55.6 years (range, 48-64 years). Five patients presented with radiculomyelopathy and two presented with typical thoracic myelopathy of spastic paraparesis. In all cases, the kinking was located just above the end of the spinal cord where the conus medullaris (CM) was compressed by the OLF. The degree of SK varied from mild to severe. The tip of the CM was located between the upper third of T11 to the lower third of L1, above the lower edge of L1. With an average follow-up of 30.4 months, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly improved from 5.7 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 1.4 postoperatively (t = 12.05; P < 0.0001) with an improvement rate of 63.1 ± 12.3%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SK is a rare radiological phenomenon. It is typically located at the thoracolumbar junction, where the CM is compressed by the OLF. Our findings indicate that these patients may benefit from a posterior decompressive procedure.</p>

Clinical comparative study of breast-conserving surgery and improved surgical in breast cancer patients / 中国综合临床

Objective To comparative analysze of the applications value of breast-conserving surgery and improved surgical in breast cancer patients.Methods One hundred and sixty-eight female breast cancer patients from February 2005 to October 2010 in the People's Hospital of Rizhaoour hospital were selected.The patients were divided into breast-conserving surgery group (n =80) and improved surgical group (n =88).The patients in two groups were followed-up and investigated for three years.Operative time,blood loss,postoperative drainage,postoperative drainage time and hospital stay,incidence of complications,local recurrence,distant metastasis and survival after 3 year,satisfaction ratio of breast cosmetology,psychological anxiety scores and quality of life scores after 3 years of the patients in two groups were compared and analyzed.Results The complication rate of breast-conserving surgery group was 12.50％ (10/80),lower than the improved surgical group,and the difference was significant statistically (29.55％ (26/88),x2 =7.23,P＜0.05).The operative time ((72.68±5.28) min),blood loss ((39.21 ± 8.59) ml),postoperative drainage ((162.25 ± 28.56) ml),postoperative drainage time((8.16±2.58) d) and the length of hospital stay((11.43±1.98) d) of the patients in breast-conserving surgery group were lower than those of the improved surgical group,and the differences of two groups were significant statistically ((92.48 ± 6.01) min,(68.26 ± 10.23) ml,(343.29 ± 62.18) ml,(16.59±4.96) d,(18.47±2.94) d;t =22.72,19.99,24.61,13.99,18.35;P＜0.05).The satisfaction rate after 3 years of breast-conserving surgery group was 92.50％(74/80),higher than that of the improved surgical group,and the difference was significant statistically (81.82％ (72/88),x2 =4.20,P＜ 0.05).The psychological anxiety scores after 2 and 3 years of breast-conserving surgery group were (40.02 ± 2.63) points and (34.26 ± 3.59) points,lower than those of improved surgical group((42.58±2.37) points and (39.85±2.10) points),the quality of life scores after 3 years of breast-conserving surgery group was (67.58± 11.26)points,higher than that of improved surgical group ((50.85 ± 10.42) points),and the differences were significant statistically (t =6.60,12.16,9.96;P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Breast-conserving surgery could reduce the incidence of complications and psychological anxiety situations,improve clinically relevant indicators and satisfaction ratio of breast cosmetology and quality of life for the breast cancer patients.

Effect of aminophylline on physiological and pathological changes in acute exposure to high altitude in rats / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of aminophylline on physiological and pathological changes in acute exposure to high altitude in rats.@*METHODS@#A total of 21 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a plain group (altitude 55 m), a high altitude hypoxia group (altitude 4 300 m), and a high altitude hypoxia plus aminophylline group. After 5 days, blood from orbital venous was collected for analyzing biochemical parameters. Blood from abdominal aorta was collected for analyzing the parameters of blood gas. The tissues of brain, lung, and kidney were dissected for pathological observation.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the plain group, the parameters of LDH, ALP, Urea and cCl? in the hypoxia group or the aminophylline treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the parameters of ALB, Cr, SatO₂, Hb, Hct, PaCO₂, PaO₂2, BB and BE were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the hypoxia group, the parameters of Cr, pH, Hct, cNa⁺, cCl⁻ in the aminophylline treatment group were significantly increased (P<0.01), while AST, ALT, ALB, PaCO₂ and cK⁺ were significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Pathological results showed the brain, lung and liver tissues were obviously damaged in the hypoxia group compared with that in the plain group. These damages were significantly attenuated by aminophylline.@*CONCLUSION@#Aminophylline can improve blood gas and biochemical parameters in acute exposure to high altitude in rats. It can protect rat brain, lung and liver from the damage caused by acute high altitude, which may be related its effects on relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of inflammation.

Expression of plateau adaptation gene of rat tissues after plain acute exposure to high altitude / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of the plateau adaptablity gene(EPAS1, EGLN1 and PPARα) and proteins(HIF-2, PHD2 and PPARα) in rats blood, heart, liver, lung and kidney tissue after the rats exposed to high altitude.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Wistar rats were randomly divided into plain group(Shanghai, 55 m), acute exposure to high altitude 3400 m group, acute exposure to high altitude 4300 m group. Blood and organs of rats were collected in 1, 3, 5 days after arrival. Real time PCR and ELISA were used to compare the expression of plateau adaptablity gene and related protein between plain group and high altitude exposure groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The count of red blood cells, hemoglobin and HCT in high altitude 4300 m were higher than those in plain group. Compared with plain group, the expression of EPAS1 gene in blood, heart, liver and kidney tissue of rats at high altitude increased obviously(all P<0.05); the expression of EGLN1 in the heart, liver, brain and kidney increased, and PPARα gene in the heart, liver and kidney increased(all P<0.05). Compared with plain group, the expression of HIF-2 protein increased significantly at high altitudes in the liver, brain and kidney tissues. PHD2 and PPARα increased in the heart, liver and kidney.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plateau adaptive genes(EPAS1, EGLN1 and PPARα) and protein(HIF-2, PHD2 and PPARα) differed in different altitude and different organizations. They might be used as target markers of plateau hypoxia.</p>

Myocardial injury in rats following a sudden increase of altitudes / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of a sudden increase of altitudes (within 2500 m) in winter on cardiomyocyte functions in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups A (55 m), B (1520 m), and C (2260 m) and subjected to simulated conditions at the indicated altitudes in winter for 3 days. Blood gas analysis, venous blood biochemistry, and measurements of SOD activity and myocardial concentrations of MDA and NO were performed. Histopathological changes in the left ventricle were observed with HE staining and electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood pH and PCO2 did not differ significantly between the 3 groups, but PO2 and BE in groups B and C decreased significantly compared with those in group A (P<0.01). Compared with group A, the rats in group C showed obviously increased myocardial enzymes, MYB, Tn-I, and MDA contents (P<0.01) with significantly decreased SOD activity (P<0.05); both groups B and C showed significantly decreased NO content in the myocardium (P<0.01). Histopathologically, the myocardial fiber in group C showed irregular alignment, disruption, and mitochondrial expansion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A sudden increase of altitude to 2260 m in winter can potentially cause hypoxic cardiomyocyte damage as a result of oxidative and environmental stresses.</p>

Detection of plasma and urine furosemide based on online enrichment and restricted- access media coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method based on restricted access media-high performance liquid chromatography for direct online sample injection and detection of plasma and urine furosemide in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The column of restricted access media was used as the pre-treatment column and a C18 column as the analytical column. The mobile phase of the pre- treatment column was water-methanol (95:5, V/V) with a volume percentage of formic acid of 0.1%. The mobile phase of the analytical column was methanol-water (65:35, V/V) for plasma and methanol-water (55:45, V/V) for urine samples, all containing a volume percentage of formic acid of 0.1% with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The detection wavelength was 274 nm and the column temperature was maintained at 25 degrees celsius.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The calibration curve showed an excellent linear relationship in rat plasma furosemide concentration range of 0.1-3.2 µg/ml (r=0.9995) and in urine concentration range of 0.5-32 µg/ml (r=0.9991). The average recoveries of furosemide at 3 spiked levels ranged from 101.82% to 113.36% for plasma and from 98.75% to 112.27% for urine samples. The detection showed good intra- and inter-day assay precisions and accuracies with the relative standard deviations all below 5%. The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC(0→24) was 6.265 g/(ml·h) with a t(1/2) of 2.447 h and a C(Max) of 1.414 g/ml. The mean cumulative excretory rate of furosemide in the urine of rats over 24 h was 32.50%-39.08%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detection of furosemide in plasma and urine samples using restricted access media-high performance liquid chromatography is simple and efficient and allows direct online injection of the samples.</p>

Effect of acute exposure to high altitude on pharmacokinetics of propranolol and metoprolol in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pharmacokinetics of propranolol and metoprolol in rats after acute exposure to high altitude.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups for treatment with intragastric administration of propranolol or metoprolol after acute exposure to high altitude (4010 m) or normal altitude (50 m). Venous blood samples were collected from the rats at different time points after drug administration to determine the drug concentrations in the plasma and plasma ultrafiltrate using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein binding rate of propranolol was significantly increased but that of metoprolol remained unchanged after acute exposure to high altitude. Compared with the rats exposed to normal altitude, the rats with acute exposure to high altitude showed significant alterations in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drugs, shown by increased Cmax and AUC, prolonged t1/2 and MRT, and lowered Clz/F of propranolol, and by increased Tmax and prolonged t1/2 and MRT of metoprolol without obvious changes of the parameters of the compartmental model.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of propranolol and metoprolol occur in rats after acute exposure to high altitude possibly in relation to, apart from the changes in plasma protein binding ratio and blood gas, alterations in metabolic enzyme activities, increased blood viscosity, and species and general conditions of the animals.</p>

Proteomics research of bufalin-induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell lines / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the apoptosis inducing effects of bufalin on various human osteosarcoma cells and the concerning molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>MTT assay was used to detect the growth inhibition rates of osteosarcoma cells U-20S, U-20S/MTX300, SaOS-2, IOR/OS9 treated with bufalin in different concentrations and times. The apoptosis of cells was observed flow cytometry 48 h following bufalin treatment. The proteomic techniques were used to separate and compare the treated and control groups 48 h after bufalin-incubation. Then, the proteomic results were validated by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Bufalin inhibited the growth of human osteosarcoma cells U20S, U20S/MTX300 (methotrexate resistant cells), SAOS2, IOR/OS9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The 72 h IC50 were (37.43 +/- 4.1), (32.24 +/- 5.3) nmol x L(-1) in U20S,U20S/MTX300 cells,respectivly. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis cells were increased following bufalin treatment. The protein expression profile showed 24 differentiated expression proteins. Among these proteins, the level of an anti-apoptotic protein, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) decreased significantly and the result was then validated by western blot. Ectopic expression of Hsp27 could reduce the bufalin-induced apoptosis remarkably in U20S and U20S/MTX300 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bufalin could inhibit the cell growth and induce apoptosis on human osteosarcoma cells. The effect of bufalin may be related to the joint intervention with multiple protein targets. Among them, downregulation of Hsp27 plays a critical role in the bufalin-induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells.</p>

Value of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy for diagnosis of PET-CT positive mediastinal lymph nodes / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical value of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) biopsy for diagnosis of PET-CT positive mediastinal lymph nodes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-six patients with lung cancer undergoing both PET-CT scanning and EBUS-TBNA biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guanzhou Medical College from July 2008 to August 2010 were included in this study. There were 89 male and 37 female patients with a mean age of 56.3 years (range 34 to 81 years). (18)FDG-PET was considered positive in mediastinal nodes if the PET-CT reported hypermetabolic activity consistent with malignant disease (standardized uptake value > 2.5). All of the patients were clinically followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 126 patients, 185 stations of lymph nodes were punctured. The mean diameter of the nodes was 13.6 mm and the range was 6 - 23 mm. There were no procedural complications. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EBUS-TBNA were 95.7%, 95.7%, and 100%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EBUS-TBNA is a minimally invasive, highly effective and accurate, practical and safe procedure for diagnosis of PET-CT positive mediastinal lymph nodes.</p>