The ameliorative effects of Hypericum perforatum extract on high altitude cerebral edema in hypoxic rats / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the ameliorative effects of Hypericum perforatum extract(HPE)on high altitude cerebral edema(HACE)in hypoxia rats.Methods A large low-pressure oxygen chamber was used to simulate the hypoxia environment at an altitude of 7 500 m.The pathological changes of HPE on the brain tissues of HACE rats were observed,and the water content,oxidative stress and inflammatory factors related indicators of brain tissues were detected.Results Through administered HPE by gavage,the histopathological damage of HACE rats was improved,the concentration of nuclear pyknosis was reduced,the degree of vacuolization was reduced,and the inflammatory response was alleviated.At the same time,HPE decreased the water content and the contents of MDA,H2O2,IL-1β,IL-6,VEGF and TNF-α in brain tissues of HACE rats,while increased the content of GSH and the activities of T-SOD and CAT.Conclusions HPE can ameliorate HACE in hypoxic rats to some extent,the mechanism of which may be related to ameliorating oxidative stress injury and reducing inflammation response.Hypericum perforatum is expected to be developed as a drug preparation for the treatment of HACE.

Application of microwave irradiation technology to the field of pharmaceutics / 药学学报

Microwaves can be directly transformed into heat inside materials because of their ability of penetrating into any substance. The degree that materials are heated depends on their dielectric properties. Materials with high dielectric loss are more easily to reach a resonant state by microwaves field, then microwaves can be absorbed efficiently. Microwave irradiation technique with the unique heating mechanisms could induce drug-polymer interaction and change the properties of dissolution. Many benefits such as improving product quality, increasing energy efficiency and reducing times can be obtained by microwaves. This paper summarized characteristics of the microwave irradiation technique, new preparation techniques and formulation process in pharmaceutical industry by microwave irradiation technology. The microwave technology provides a new clue for heating and drying in the field of pharmaceutics.

Meta-analysis of laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision for middle and low rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (laparoscopic TME) versus open total mesorectal excision (open TME) in the treatment of middle and low rectal cancer using meta-analysis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>From 1991 to 2012, the Chinese and English articles of randomized controlled trails (RTCs) about laparoscopic TME versus open TME in the treatment of middle and low rectal cancer were collected, and a meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.1 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight RCTs including 863 patients with middle and low rectal cancer (428 cases in laparoscopic TME group, 435 cases in open TME group) were enrolled in the meta-analysis. Laparoscopic TME was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.01), earlier to pass first flatus (P<0.01), shorter hospital stay (P<0.05), less postoperative incision infections (P<0.01) and postoperative bleeding (P<0.05) compared to open TME. There were no significant differences between laparoscopic TME and open TME groups in operative time, number of resected lymph nodes, anastomotic leak, ileus and pelvic abscess (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>As compared to open TME, laparoscopic TME has similar efficacy in terms of lymph nodes harvest, and it can promote postoperative recovery, and reduce incision infection and postoperative bleeding.</p>

Value and limitations of multislice spiral CT in diagnosing coronary artery stenoses / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value and limitations of multislice spiral CT in diagnosing coronary artery stenoses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 65 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease were examined by multislice spiral CT (retrospectively ECG-gating; 0.5 s rotation; one-sector reconstruction algorithm; intravenous contrast agent) and the results were compared with quantitative coronary angiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 889 coronary artery segments of 65 patients, 795 could be evaluated by CT (89.4%), 148 out of 167 coronary artery segments with significant stenoses (> or = 50% reduction of vessel diameter) were correctly detected by CT, 597 out of 628 coronary artery segments with normal or mild stenosis (< 50% reduction of vessel diameter) were correctly detected by CT. These values correspond to a sensitivity of 88.6%, specificity of 95.1%, positive predictive value of 82.7%, and negative predictive value of 96.9% for the detection of significant coronary artery stenosis by CT. Adding the 23 coronary artery segments with significant stenosis which could not be judged by CT, the sensitivity of CT for diagnosing coronary stenosis was 77.9%. In the 795 evaluable coronary artery segments, 78 out of 86 coronary artery segments with high-grade stenosis (> or = 75% reduction of vessel diameter) were correctly detected by CT, 692 of 709 coronary artery segments with normal or mild stenosed (< 75% reduction of vessel diameter) were correctly detected by CT. These values correspond to a sensitivity of 90.7%, specificity of 97.6%, positive predictive value of 82.1%, and negative predictive value of 98.9% for the detection of high-grade coronary artery segments stenosis by CT. Adding 13 coronary artery segments with high-grade stenosis which could not be judged by CT, the sensitivity was 78.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Multislice spiral CT permits the visualization of significant coronary artery stenosis with high accuracy in case of sufficient image quality.</p>

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of 48 cases of parathyroid adenoma and parathyroid carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the experience in diagnosis and surgical treatment of parathyroid adenoma and carcinoma (PTA and PTC) in our department.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and pathological data of 48 cases admitted in our department from Jan 1995 to Dec 2005 were reviewed. Among the 48 cases, 46 cases were of parathyroid adenoma and 2 cases of parathyroid carcinoma. The average clinical history of the 48 cases was 3.65 +/- 2.83 years. The serum calcium and PTH levels were elevated in all the 48 cases. In 31 cases ultrasonographic results were consisted with that of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. Unilateral neck exploration was performed in 18 cases and no case with post-operative tumor remnants was found. In other 13 cases bilateral exploration was performed but no one case was found to be tumor positive in the opposite side of the glands. Tumors resection was performed in all the 48 cases, among which in the 2 cases with PTC, ipsilateral thyroid lobe excision and modified neck dissection were also performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical symptoms of all the patients were relieved after operation. No recurrent case was found during the follow-up periods (from 1 month to 10 years). The average level of serum calcium and PTH declined significantly after operation. The post-operational serum calcium and PTH levels at 3 days after operation were even lower than normal. Transient post-operational hypocalcemia was found in almost all the patients. The serum calcium and PTH levels in all patients recovered to normal level within a periods from 1 week to 3 months after operation. The sensitivity and positive prediction value of localization methods were 97.0% and 94.1% of ultrasonography, respectively, and 100% and 97.3% of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with chronic bone diseases, repeatedly recurrent nephrolithiasis, peptic ulcer disease or pancreatitis should be regarded as suspicious cases of PTA and PTC, and serum calcium assay should be performed as a routine screening procedure. Serum calcium and PTH assays are both reliable methods for the diagnosis of PTA and PTC. A combination of ultrasonography and 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy is sufficient for locating adenomas. Accompanied by intraoperative pathological examination, unilateral neck exploration is an acceptable approach for patients with definitely preoperative confirmed adenoma localization.</p>

Telomerase SiRNA inhibits KB cell growth in human oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the telomerase SiRNA on telomerase mRNA and on KB cell growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We synthesized 21-nucleotide SiRNA duplexes with symmetric 2-nucleotide 3' overhangs corresponding to the target sequence (2 657 approximately 2 675 nucleotide downstream of the start codon) of telomerase mRNA. Telomerase activity, cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis were measured after transfection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty one-nucleotide small interfering RNA (SiRNA) duplexes specifically suppressed expression of endogenous telomerase mRNA in human oral squamous carcinoma KB cells. This inhibitory effect lasted only for about 48 h after transfection. Telomerase activity reduction corresponded to the mRNA suppression. Cell proliferation decreased by 30% at 48 h after transfection and lasted for 120 h after treatment. This inhibitory effect resulted from the block of G(1) to S transition. Apoptosis was not involved in this process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SiRNA is a powerful tool for studying gene function and can be used as gene-specific therapeutics.</p>