Review on advantages and evidence of treating and preventing urinary tract infection in traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) belongs to the category of stranguria. This article describes the unsatisfactory situations in clinical practice such as antibiotics abuse, increasing of drug-resistant bacteria, high recurrence rate, etc. According to evidence-based medicine, literatures as evidence are collected for summarizing and analyzing and the result shows the advantages of TCM of relieving symptoms, reducing the dosage of antibiotics, less side effects, lower recurrence rate, etc. In the field of fundamental research, literatures associated with UTI are also summarized and analysed from several perspectives, such as causes, pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation, pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal medicine, working mechanism of non-drug therapy, etc and the result presents that integrated treatment of TCM in UTI has significant advangtages and its own characteristic.

Preliminary Research for the Effect of EMRE on Myocardial Ischemia Injury in Experimental Mice / 中国循环杂志

To study the effect of essential MCU regulator (EMRE) on myocardial ischemia injury in experimental mice with underlining mechanism. Methods: Myocardial EMRE expression was up-regulated by EMRE adenovirus (Ad-EMRE) injection in mice myocardium tissue. Our research included in 3 groups: Sham operation group, sham mice received myocardium injection of eGFP adenovirus (Ad-eGFP); Myocardial infarction (MI) control group, the mice received Ad-eGFP injection and 48 hours later had coronary LAD ligation to establish MI model; MI treatment group, MI mice received Ad-EMRE injection. All animals were treated in 3 weeks. Mice cardiac function was examined by ultrasound; cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was evaluated by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining, collagen fibrosis was measured by Masson staining, cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay, protein expressions of EMRE, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by Western blot analysis and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assayed by MitoSOX fluorescence probe. Results: Compared with MI control group, MI treatment group showed the worse cardiac function, aggravated cardiac hypertrophy and elevated collagen fibrosis; in addition, MI treatment group had obviously increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and increased protein expressions of Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and more mitochondrial ROS production. Conclusion: Over expressed EMRE can increase mitochondrial ROS production, induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and therefore, aggravate myocardial ischemia injury in experimental mice.

Construction of lentiviral vector carrying mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 and its use in infected H9C2 cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1) is one of the important molecules to maintain the mitochondrial calcium homeostasis. The regulation of MICU1 to mitochondrial calcium homeostasis may play an important role in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To construct a lentiviral vector carrying MICU1 gene to transfect H9C2 cel s, and then to assess MICU1 level in H9C2 cel s thereby establishing a platform for researching the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy at a cel ular level. METHODS:DNA fragments of MICU1 were amplified by PCR, cleaved with Spe I, EcoR I and cloned into the lentiviral vector pRRLsin.CMV.eGFP to construct pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP vector. 293T cel s were co-transfected with recombined pCMVDR8.91 and pCMV-VSVG to produce pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP lentiviral viruses, and then used to infect H9C2 cel s. mRNA and protein expressions of MICU1 in the transfected H9C2 cel s were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot assay. Mitochondrial calcium level in Rhod-2-stained H9C2 cel s was tested under confocal microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The recombinant inducible lentiviral vector containing MICU1 gene was successful y constructed. 293T could express green fluorescent protein with increased MICU1 level after pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP transfection. The mRNA and protein expressions of MICU1 in the infected H9C2 group were obviously up-regulated compared with the other groups. MICU1 could remarkably improve the mitochondrial calcium level under Rhod-2 staining. These results show that pRRLsin.CMV.MICU1-eGFP lentiviral viruses are efficient to transfect H9C2 cel s, which wil be powered to lay a foundation for the immortalized cel line establishment.

Epigenetics,diseases and therapy in ophthalmology / 中华实验眼科杂志

Heritable changes in gene expression are regarded as epigenetics,which do not involve coding sequence modifications.The study of ophthalmology epigenetics is a rapidly growing area in biomedical research.Epigenetic mechanisms principally include DNA methylation,histone modification,chromatin remodeling and noncoding RNA.Aberrant DNA methylation and histone modification are linked to a number of age-related disorders,such as cancer,autoimmune and others.In recent years,the modulations of epigenetic changes on the pathogenesis of eye disorders and their roles in therapeutic interventions are drawing more and more attention,and these studies deepen the understanding of relevant diseases.Since the epigenetic alterations are reversible,modifying epigenetic marks contributing to eye diseases provide a new approach to the development of disease prevention,diagnosis and therapies.Herein we discuss the roles of epigenetic changes in eye disease development,hoping that ophthalmologists and researchers pay attention to these researching cues in pathogenesis of eye disorders caused by genetic expression alterations in response to environmental changes,importantly,to the implication for relevant eye disease therapy and prevention.

Effects of er-long-zuo-ci-wan on the spontaneous activities of auditory central nucleus in rat model of tinnitus induced by salicylate acid / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>Observe the effects of er-long-zuo-ci-wan (EIZCW, a compound of Chinese Traditional Medicine) on the spontaneous discharge of external cortex of inferior colliculus (ICx) and secondary auditory cortex (AII) of chronic tinnitus model rats induced by salicylate acid, to explore the neural mechanisms underlying ELZCW preventing tinnitus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>30 adult SD rats were involved and divided into three groups, normal control group, chronic tinnitus model group and ELZCW prevention group. Extracellular recording techniques and stereotaxic method were used. The spontaneous spikes were recorded and analyzed from ICx and all in different group rats. The average rate of spontaneous discharge and the interspike interval histogram of spontaneous activities were used as indexes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with normal control group, the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the ICx in the chronic tinnitus model group increased significantly (4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz vs. 3.14 +/- 0.40 Hz, P < 0.05). Furthermore analysis showed that the discharge rate of short spike interval from the ICx in the chronic tinnitus model group increased than that of the normal group (0-40 ms: 58% vs. 40%; 0-4 ms: 9% vs. 5%). And there was an increasing tendency of the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the AII in the chronic tinnitus model group compared with that in the normal group. (2) Compared with the chronic tinnitus model group, the average rate of spontaneous discharge recorded from the ICx and AII in the ELZCW prevention group significantly decreased than that in the chronic tinnitus model group (ICx: 2.41 +/- 0.21 Hz vs. 4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz, P < 0.01. AII: 2.24 +/- 0.24 Hz vs. 4.57 +/- 0.54 Hz , P < 0.01). And the discharge rate of short spike interval from the ICx and AII in the chronic tinnitus model group decreased than that in the normal control group (ICx: 0-40 ms 50% vs. 58%, 0-4 ms 4% vs. 9%. All: 0-22 ms: 24% vs. 31%, 0-8 ms 19% vs. 16%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>If the increasing of the spontaneous activities of ICx and AII in chronic tinnitus rats means tinnitus, the use of ELZCW could decrease this kind of changes.</p>

Correlation between sex hormone and insulin and various TCM syndrome types in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationships of sex hormone and insulin with various TCM syndrome types of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and their significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Levels of testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), and insulin (INS) in 120 patients with PCOS were determined respectively, among them, 30 patients were classified by TCM syndrome differentiation as Shen-yin deficiency type (SYiD), 30 as Shen-yang deficiency type (SYaD), 30 as Pi-yang deficiency type (PYD) and 30 as Gan-stagnancy transformed heat type (GSH).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was shown that T level in SYiD, serum LH and LH/FSH ratio in SYaD, PRL in GSH and INS in PYD patients were higher as compared with those in patients of other three types (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), except for the above-mentioned, the differences in all the paired comparisons of all the indexes between TCM types were insignificant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Elevated level of T, LH and LH/FSH ratio, PRL and INS are correlated with the TCM syndrome type of SYiD, SYaD, GSH and PYD in patients with PCOS respectively, and being the clinical characteristics of the corresponding syndromes.</p>

Effect of adjuvant chemotherapy of ginsenoside Rg3 combined with mitomycin C and tegafur in advanced gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the enhancing effects of ginsenoside Rg3 combined with mitomycin C and tegafur (MF) on postoperative chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-one postoperative patients with advanced gastric cancer were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n=33), which received treatment with only MF (Mitomycin C+Tegafur), and the trial group (n=38), which were treated with ginsenoside Rg3+MF. The serum VEGF levels in the control group and trial group were detected preoperatively and postoperatively, meanwhile, the serum VEGF levels in 30 healthy persons were detected as comparison. The relations between patients survival and serum VEGF levels were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum VEGF in advanced gastric cancer were higher than those in healthy persons [(297.8+/-129.6) pg/ml vs (212.3+/-67.5) pg/ml] (P<0.01), and were correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, tumor size > 4 cm and TNM stage (P<0.05). Fourteen weeks after operation, the levels of serum VEGF in trial group decreased below those of preoperation and approached to normal range, while in the control group, the levels of serum VEGF decreased near those of preoperation only. The median survival of patients in trial group and control group were 40 and 25 months respectively. The survival rate of patients in trial group was significantly higher than that in control group (P=0.047).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined application of ginsenoside Rg3+MF chemotherapy can decrease the concentration of serum VEGF and improve the survival rate in advanced gastric cancer patients.</p>

Clinical analysis and molecular genetic study of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer kindreds / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathological and molecular genetic characteristics of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), to enable the early diagnosis and to evaluate the treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed 12 families of HNPCC from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Mismatch repair genes hMSH2 and hMLH1 expression and microsatellite instability of tumor tissue were studied using microdissection, microsatellite analysis, immunohistochemical staining and Gene Scan analysis. Direct DNA sequencing of hMSH2 and hMLH1 were performed subsequently.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Altogether 32 patients with colorectal cancer were recognized in 12 HNPCC families, with the median age of 45.2 years (75.0% before the age of 50 years). The proximal tumors accounted for 51.1%, while multiple colorectal cancers accounted for 34.4%. Poor differentiation cancers occupied half of the patients (53.1%). And 68.8% of the patients had the tumor of Dukes A and B. Among 12 HNPCC families, 7 cases in 6 HNPCC families developed extracolonic cancer. 13 cases died during follow up of 1 - 23 years. The median survival time was 6.4 years. 19 alive cases followed up from 1 to 28 years. All tumors (9/9) displayed microsatellite instability, with the half losing hMSH2 or hMLH1 expression. In the 5 genetic analyzed kindreds 3 possessed germline mutation. Two of three mutations have not been reported in the worldwide database previously.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HNPCC showed distinct clinicopathological characteristics. Microsatellite instability analysis and immunohistochemical staining might be the effective screening methods before direct DNA sequencing for the detection of mutation in mismatch repair genes. It is important to analyze the members of affected families.</p>

Etiologic fraction and interaction of risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore etiologic fraction (EF) and interaction of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriage and other risk factors for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>1:1 matched case-control study was carried out in Wenzhou, with 180 cases of PHC and 180 controls. EF and interactions of serum positive HBsAg [HBsAg(+)] and other risk factors for PHC were analyzed by Mantel-Haenszel stratified method and conditional multiple logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum HBsAg(+), poor economic status during the past five years, preferring intake of pickled vegetables, history of PHC in their first-degree relatives, and negative life events all were risk factors for PHC, with EFs of 0.728, 0.245, 0.224, 0.084, and 0.234, respectively. There existed interactions of HBsAg(+) with other risk factors, including poor economic status during the past five years, preferring intake of pickled vegetables, history of PHC in their first-degree relatives, and negative life events, with etiologic fractions attributable to interaction [EF (A x B)] of 0.770, 0.630, 0.848, and 0.627, and indices of interaction of 0.789, 0.638, 0.852, and 0.634, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Main risk factor for PHC in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China could include HBsAg(+), poor economic status during the past five years, preferring intake of pickled vegetables, history of PHC in their first-degree relatives, and negative life events. HBsAg(+) plus any of the following factors, such as poor economic status during the past five years, preferring intake of pickled vegetables, history of PHC in their first-degree relatives, and negative life events, could increase the risk of PHC.</p>