Symptomatic Radiation Pneumonitis in NSCLC Patients Receiving EGFR-TKIs and Concurrent Once-daily Thoracic Radiotherapy: Predicting the Value of Clinical and Dose-volume Histogram Parameters / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#The incidence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) and its relationship with dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) and concurrent once-daily thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) remain unclear. We aim to analyze the values of clinical factors and dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters to predict the risk for symptomatic RP in these patients.@*METHODS@#Between 2011 and 2019, we retrospectively analyzed and identified 85 patients who had received EGFR-TKIs and once-daily TRT simultaneously (EGFR-TKIs group) and 129 patients who had received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT group). The symptomatic RP was recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (CTCAE) criteria (grade 2 or above). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0.@*RESULTS@#In total, the incidences of symptomatic (grade≥2) and severe RP (grade≥3) were 43.5% (37/85) and 16.5% (14/85) in EGFR-TKIs group vs 27.1% (35/129) and 10.1% (13/129) in CCRT group respectively. After 1:1 ratio between EGFR-TKIs group and CCRT group was matched by propensity score matching, chi-square test suggested that the incidence of symptomatic RP in the MATCHED EGFR-TKIs group was higher than that in the matched CCRT group (χ2=4.469, P=0.035). In EGFR-TKIs group, univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the percentage of ipsilateral lung volume receiving ≥30 Gy (ilV30) [odds ratio (OR): 1.163, 95%CI: 1.036-1.306, P=0.011] and the percentage of total lung volume receiving ≥20 Gy (tlV20) (OR: 1.171, 95%CI: 1.031-1.330, P=0.015), with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or not (OR: 0.158, 95%CI: 0.041-0.600, P=0.007), were independent predictors of symptomatic RP. Compared to patients with lower ilV30/tlV20 values (ilV30 and tlV20<cut-off point values) and without COPD, patients with higher ilV30/tlV20 values (ilV30 and tlV20>cut-off point values) and COPD had a significantly higher risk for developing symptomatic RP, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.350 (95%CI: 1.190-1.531, P<0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients receiving both EGFR-TKIs and once-daily TRT were more likely to develop symptomatic RP than patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The ilV30, tlV20, and comorbidity of COPD may predict the risk of symptomatic RP among NSCLC patients receiving EGFR-TKIs and conventionally fractionated TRT concurrently.

Cerebrospinal Fluid β2-Microglobulin for Prognostic Evaluation of Patients with Central Nervous System Infiltration in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the prognostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with central nervous system invasion after chemotherapy.@*METHODS@#40 patients with leukemia who had been confirmed to have central nervous system infiltration were selected for treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2015 to May 2017, and the serum levels of β2-MG and CSF-β2MG were dynamically monitored and performed statistical analysis.@*RESULTS@#After chemotherapy, the changes in serum β2-MG were not statistically significant (P>0.05); the absolute level of CSF-β2MG and the percentage of relative baseline changes were statistically different in different clinical outcome groups(P<0.05), and the decreasing CSF-β2MG levels suggest a better prognosis, with cut-off values of 1.505 and -25%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#The best cut-off point may be a predictor of complete remission; the reduction of the absolute and relative levels of CSF-β2MG can suggest a good prognosis for patients.

Correlation analysis and breeding application of agronomic traits and quality indexes in Dendrobium nobile / 中国中药杂志

The present study aimed to explore the correlation between agronomic traits and quality indexes of Dendrobium nobile and its application value in agricultural breeding. The cultivated strains of D. nobile in Hejiang-Chishui producing areas were extensively collected,and the main agronomic traits and quality indexes were measured. The agronomic traits with significant correlation with quality indexes were screened out by the correlation analysis,and then the parental lines and self-bred F_1 generation plants were furtherverified. Among 96 lines of D. nobile,the content of soluble polysaccharides showed a significant negative correlation with dendrobine( P < 0. 01),and no significant correlation with agronomic traits in stems and leaves. The content of dendrobine exhibited a significant positive correlation with the stem width-thickness ratio( at the largest cross section; P < 0. 01),and no significant correlation with other agronomic traits. Regression analysis further verified the positive correlation between dendrobine content and stem width-thickness ratio( R2> 0. 9). Two lines,JC-10 and JC-35,with significant differences in stem width-thickness ratio were screened out( P <0. 05). The corresponding F1 generation plants by self-pollination both showed that the dendrobine content was higher with greater stem width-thickness ratio( P < 0. 01). The experimental results suggested that within a certain range,the dendrobine content was higher in D. nobile with flatter stem. Therefore,in the breeding of D. nobile,this specific trait could be used for screening plants with high content of quality indexes such as dendrobine.

Quantitative proteomics of inhibitory mechanism of Dendrobium denneanum ether extract on lung cancer cells / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobium denneanum have been used for a long time as rare medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Our previous works found that ether extract of D. denneanum had higher anticancer activities than alcohol or water extract,thus with better development prospects. Quantitative proteomics based on SILAC technique was used to investigate the anticancer mechanism of D. denneanum on lung tumor cell line A549,and 4 855 proteins were detected in A549 cells. Quantitative proteomics experiments found that 193 proteins of A549 cells were up-regulated,and 44 proteins were down-regulated by ether extract of D. denneanum. Those proteins are associated with synthesis,transport and metabolism of biological macromolecules,chaperone,DNA repair,oxidoreductase,cell adhesion,cell cycle,apoptosis and autophagy. Through the function analysis of differentially expressed proteins,it was inferred that ether extract of D. denneanum caused cell protein metabolism disorder,endoplasmic reticulum stress response,abnormal self-repair mechanism of cells,damage of cell adhesion and proliferation; besides,it caused a dramatic increase in ROS level in A549 cells,and upset the balance of intracellular oxidation reduction system. Affected by the above factors,lung cancer cells initiated apoptosis and autophagy,which accelerated cell death. This research explains the anticancer mechanism of D. denneanum from the perspective of quantitative proteomics,and lays a foundation for future research and development of new anticancer drugs based on ether extract of D. denneanum.

Metabolic Characteristics of Leucocyte-deplated and Suspended RBC Produced by Using Lipid Whole Blood During Routine Storage / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differences of metabolic pathways of leucocyte-deplated RBCs prepared by using lipid whole blood and nomal blood during routine storage so as to provide some reference for clinical blood use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty U whole blood from 20 donors, including 10 U lipid blood and 10 U normal whole blood, were selected for preparing leukodepleted red blood cells, red blood cells were taken from storage bags on day 0, 14 and 35, respectively. Metabolites in the red blood cells were analyzed, red blood cell metabolic extracts were detected by UPLC-MS/MS. The metabolite data of RBC from 2 groups were analyzed by SIMCA-P 13.0 software using OPLS-DA and by SPSS 19.0 using Mann-Whitney U test. Difference of metabolic pathways was described according to different metabolites.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The glucose, adenine, pyruvic acid, GSH, GSSG and niacinamide levels on day 0 in lipid RBCs were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05). The glucose, pyruvic acid and GSH levels on day 14 in lipid RBCs were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the levels of adenine, GSSG and niacinamide were higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The glucose level on day 0 was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the levels of adenine and niacinamide were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). but the pyruvic acid, GSH and GSSG levels were not significantly different between 2 groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the normal red blood cells, the energy metabolism pathway decreases in lipid red blood cells within the storage period and pentose phosphate pathway increases.</p>

Alternative Oxidase Promotes Biofilm Formation of Candida albicans / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study was designed to analyze the effect of the mitochondrial respiratory pathways of Candida albicans (C.albicans) on the biofilm formation.The 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay was used to measure the metabolic activities of biofilms formed by the C.albicans which were cultured in the presence of respiratory pathways inhibitors.The biofilms formed by the wide type (WT),GOA1-deleted (GOA31),GOA1-reconstituted (GOA32),AOX1a-deleted (AOX1) and AOX1b-deleted (AOX2) C.albicans strains were examined by the XTT reduction assay and fluorescence microscopy.The expression of adhesion-related genes BCR1,ALS1,ALS3,ECE1 and HWP1 in the biofilms formed by the above five C.albicans strains was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction.It was found that the metabolic activity of biofilms formed by C.albicans was decreased in the presence of alternative oxidase inhibitor whereas it was increased in the presence of classical mitochondrial respiratory pathway complex Ⅲ or complex Ⅳ inhibitor.AOX1 strain produced scarce biofilms interspersed with few hyphal filaments.Moreover,no significant changes in the expression of BCR1 and ALS3 were observed in the AOX1 strain,but the expression of ALS1 and ECE1 was down-regulated,and that of HWP1 was up-regulated.These results indicate that both AOX1 and AOX2 can promote the biofilm formation.However,AOX1a primarily plays a regulatory role in biofilm formation in the absence of inducers where the promoting effect is mainly achieved by promoting mycelial formation.

Alternative Oxidase Promotes Biofilm Formation of Candida albicans / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study was designed to analyze the effect of the mitochondrial respiratory pathways of Candida albicans (C.albicans) on the biofilm formation.The 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay was used to measure the metabolic activities of biofilms formed by the C.albicans which were cultured in the presence of respiratory pathways inhibitors.The biofilms formed by the wide type (WT),GOA1-deleted (GOA31),GOA1-reconstituted (GOA32),AOX1a-deleted (AOX1) and AOX1b-deleted (AOX2) C.albicans strains were examined by the XTT reduction assay and fluorescence microscopy.The expression of adhesion-related genes BCR1,ALS1,ALS3,ECE1 and HWP1 in the biofilms formed by the above five C.albicans strains was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction.It was found that the metabolic activity of biofilms formed by C.albicans was decreased in the presence of alternative oxidase inhibitor whereas it was increased in the presence of classical mitochondrial respiratory pathway complex Ⅲ or complex Ⅳ inhibitor.AOX1 strain produced scarce biofilms interspersed with few hyphal filaments.Moreover,no significant changes in the expression of BCR1 and ALS3 were observed in the AOX1 strain,but the expression of ALS1 and ECE1 was down-regulated,and that of HWP1 was up-regulated.These results indicate that both AOX1 and AOX2 can promote the biofilm formation.However,AOX1a primarily plays a regulatory role in biofilm formation in the absence of inducers where the promoting effect is mainly achieved by promoting mycelial formation.

The analysis of differet nutrition support treatment and nursing in patients with severe acute pancreatitis / 肠外与肠内营养

Objective:To explore the effect and nursing measures of parenteral nutrition support treatment and nasal jejunum nutrition support treatment in patients with acute severe pancreatitis.Method:85 cases of acute severe pancreatitis were divided into the study group and the control group.The patients in the control group were given routine parenteral nutrition support therapy and clinical nursing.The patients in the study group were treated with nasal jejunum tube for enteral nutrition support,and the corresponding clinical nursing intervention was given during the treatment.The clinical indexes of two groups were compared and analyzed.Result:Before treatment,there were no significant difference in serum CRP,ALB,TP levels between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).After nutritional treatment and clinical nursing,the above indexes of the two groups were improved,but the indexes of the study group improved significantly more than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The BMI index in the study group was not significantly different compared with the control group (P ＞ 0.05).In the study group,the first time of get out of bed,mechanical ventilation time,abdominal distension remission time,sserum amylase and urine amylase recovery time were significantly lower than those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of complications including abdominal distension,diarrhea,nausea and vomiting,upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:nasal jejunum nutrition support treatment can not only play a vital role in treatment of acute severe pancreatitis patients with malnutrition,but also protect the patient gastrointestinal tract.The individualized nursing intervention can effectively reduce the incidence of complications and ensure the successful implementation of enteral nutrition.

Influence of cathepsin S deficiency on development of communicating hydrocephalus in mice induced by kaolin / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective · To evaluate the influence of cathepsin S(CatS) on the severity of communicating hydrocephalus in a kaolin injected mouse model.Methods · Kaolin suspension was injected to 8 CatS knock-out (CatS -/-) mice and 12 wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice through cisterna magna to establish communicating hydrocephalus mouse model. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used before and 1 week after kaolin injection to compare lateral ventricular volume. Lateral ventricular index was calculated to analyze the severity of hydrocephalus. Results · One week after kaolin injection,1 in CatS -/- group and 2 in WT group died. The mortality rate was 12.5% each and there was no significant difference (P=1.000). MRI results showed varying degrees of ventriculomegaly in both groups. Lateral ventricular index of CatS -/-group (n=8) and WT group (n=16) before kaolin injection was 0.05±0.01 and 0.04±0.01 respectively (P=0.720). One week after kaolin injection, lateral ventricular index of CatS-/- group (n=7) and WT group (n=14)was 0.13±0.02 and 0.11±0.01 respectively (P=0.950). In each group, in 71.4% of mice, lateral ventricular index enlarged twice or more. Conclusion · One week after kaolin injection into cisterna magna, lateral ventricles enlarges obviously, indicating hydrocephalus occurs, with high success rate. CatS gene deficiency has no significant influence on the development of communicating hydrocephalus.

Influence of cathepsin S deficiency on development of communicating hydrocephalus in mice induced by kaolin / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective · To evaluate the influence of cathepsin S(CatS) on the severity of communicating hydrocephalus in a kaolin injected mouse model.Methods · Kaolin suspension was injected to 8 CatS knock-out (CatS -/-) mice and 12 wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice through cisterna magna to establish communicating hydrocephalus mouse model. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used before and 1 week after kaolin injection to compare lateral ventricular volume. Lateral ventricular index was calculated to analyze the severity of hydrocephalus. Results · One week after kaolin injection,1 in CatS -/- group and 2 in WT group died. The mortality rate was 12.5% each and there was no significant difference (P=1.000). MRI results showed varying degrees of ventriculomegaly in both groups. Lateral ventricular index of CatS -/-group (n=8) and WT group (n=16) before kaolin injection was 0.05±0.01 and 0.04±0.01 respectively (P=0.720). One week after kaolin injection, lateral ventricular index of CatS-/- group (n=7) and WT group (n=14)was 0.13±0.02 and 0.11±0.01 respectively (P=0.950). In each group, in 71.4% of mice, lateral ventricular index enlarged twice or more. Conclusion · One week after kaolin injection into cisterna magna, lateral ventricles enlarges obviously, indicating hydrocephalus occurs, with high success rate. CatS gene deficiency has no significant influence on the development of communicating hydrocephalus.

Genetic Polymorphisms of 30 InDel Loci in Ewenki Ethnic Group from Inner Mongolia / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the genetic polymorphisms of 30 insertion/deletion （InDel） loci and evaluate their forensic application in Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia.@*METHODS@#Peripheral blood samples were collected from 87 unrelated healthy individuals in Ewenki ethnic group. Genomic DNA were extracted, and 30 InDel loci of the samples were multiplex amplified and genotyped. Hardy-Weinberg balance tests were preformed for all loci and genetic parameters were calculated by modified PowerStats v1.2 software. The linkage disequilibrium between loci were tested by SNPAnalyzer v2.0 software. Based on the allele frequencies of 30 InDel loci, the genetic relationships between Ewenki ethnic group and other populations were evaluated by analysis of molecular variance, principal component analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction.@*RESULTS@#After correction, 30 InDel loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. It was found that the pairwise InDel loci were in linkage equilibrium after Bonferroni correction. The results of population genetics indicated that Ewenki ethnic group had close genetic relationships with Henan Han and Beijing Han populations; whereas it was significantly different from several populations in Europe and Mexico.@*CONCLUSIONS@#There are relatively high genetic polymorphisms on 30 InDel loci of Ewenki ethnic group from Inner Mongolia, which can be used as a helpful supplement application for STR detection system.

The effects of Shadu Cao Mixture on immune functions of immunosuppression mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Shadu Cao Mixture (SDCM, traditional Chinese medicine) on immune functions of immunosuppression mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, SDCM low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose group. Except the blank control group, other groups were intraperitoneal injected with cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg) to establish immunosuppression mice model. The blank control group and model group received gavage administration with nonnal saline, while the other groups received gavage administration with different doses of SDCM (10, 20, 40 m/kg for 15 days) respectively. The number of leukocytes and serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in peripheral blood, spleen index, and the function of NK cells were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group , SDCM increased the number of leukocytes and serum concentrations of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood and improved the spleen index and the function of NK cells significantly (P < 0.05-0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SDCM could remarkably enhance the immune functions of immunosuppression mice induced by cyclophosphamide.</p>

Expression of BAG3 Gene in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Its Prognostic Value / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of BAG3 gene in acue myeloid leukemia (AML) and its prognostic value.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of BAG3 mRNA in 88 previously untreated AML patients. The corelation of BAG3 expression level with clinical characteristics and known prognostic markers of AML was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 88 patients with AML, the expression of BAG3 mRNA in NPMI mutated AML patients was obviously lower than that in NPMI unmutated patients (P = 0.018). The expression level of BAG3 mRNA did not related to clinical parameters, such as age, sex, FAB subtype, WBC count, extra-modullary presentation, and to prognostic factors including cytogenetics, FLT3-ITD, c-kit and CEBPα mutation status (P > 0.05). The expression level of BAG3 had no obvious effect on complete remission (CR) of patients in first treatment. The expression level of BAG3 in non-M3 patients was higher than that in relapsed patients (P = 0.036). The expression level of BAG3 had no effect on overall survival (OS) of patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression level of BAG3 does not correlated with known-prognostic markers of AML, only the expression level of BAG3 in NPM1 mutated patients is lower than that in NPM1 unmutated patients. The expression level of BAG3 has no effect on OS of AML patients, the BAG3 can not be difined as a prognostic marker in AML.</p>

Effect of osteoprotegerin in combination with interleukin-6 on inhibition of osteoclast differentiation / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) on inhibiting bone absorption induced by receptor activator for nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) in murine osteoclast precursor cells (OCPs) model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RAW 264.7 cells were solely treated with 50 ng/ml RANKL for 1 day, and then they were divided into three groups: RANKL (control group), RANKL+IL-6 (IL-6 group) and RANKL+IL-6+OPG (combination group). These cells were harvested and investigated by means of HE staining under light microscope after consecutive 9 days. Furthermore, staining tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells were detected by inverted phase contrast microscope. The absorption pits of bone slices were observed under scanning electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of mature osteoclast cells in control group was more than that in IL-6 alone or IL-6 combined with OPG group (P less than 0.05). Interestingly, this experiment has also demonstrated that there was a large number of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts (more than 3 nuclei) and several bone absorption formation in the control group, whereas the outcome was completely different in both IL-6 group and IL-6+OPG group (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-6 can suppress the differentiation of mature osteoclasts as directly adding it into the RAW 264.7 cells induced by 50 ng/ml RANKL, and further the effect of osteolysis is remarkably reduced. When treatment with IL-6 combined with OPG, a more effective strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis is reached.</p>

Study on formative assessment in the course of clinical transfusion laboratory medicine / 中华医学教育探索杂志

ObjectiveTo cultivate students innovative spirit and the ability of studying all their lives independently in the course of clinical transfusion laboratory medicine.MethodsBeginning with examination reform,we adopted the teaching mode,problem situation setting up-guidance to research and cooperation-evaluation of the students' learning effect by use of formative assessment.ResultsNew teaching mode acquired satisfactory results with development of students' activity and creativity.

Study of the effects of Auricularia auricular polysaccharide on local ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of Auricularia Auricular polysaccharide (APP) on acute cerebral injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats and its underlying mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male SD rats were intragastrically pretreated with AAP at a low (50 mg/kg) or high (100 mg/kg) dose once a day for 20 days before operation. Rats intraperitoneally injected with ginkgo biloba extract (EGb671) were taken as positive control. Focal ischemia was achieved by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on the right side for 60 min. After 24 hrs of reperfusion, the nerve function defects were recorded by Longa's score and the brain infarct sizes were measured by 2,3,5-Triphenyl-tetrazolium-chlor (TTC) staining. Apoptotic neurons were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining after 48 h of reperfusion. The levels of oxidative stress was determined via the mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AAP treatment decreased Longa's score, brain infarct size, apoptotic neurons and mitochondria-generated ROS in a dose-dependent manner. AAP at 100 mg/kg gave a better performance compared with EGb671 on all parameters examined.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AAP treatment protected rat brain from focal ischemia/reperfusion injury by its anti-oxidative effect and worked better than EGb671.</p>

Auricularia auricular polysaccharide protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether auricularia auricular polysaccharide (AAP) protects heart against ischemia/reperfusion (1/ R) injury and its underlying mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats, pretreated with AAP (50, 100, 200 mg/(kg x d), gastric perfusion) for 4 weeks, were used for Langendorff isolated heart perfusion. The hearts were subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion and the left ventricular hemodynamic parameters were measured. Formazan, a product of 2, 3, 5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC), which is proportional to myocardial viability, was measured at 490 nm, and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent was measured to evaluate the cardiac injury. The cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined after myocardial I/R.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pretreatment with AAP at 50, 100, 200/(kg d) for 4 weeks before I/R increased myocardial formazan content, reduced LDH release, improved the recovery of the left ventficular developed pressure, maximal rise rate of left ventricular pressure, and rate pressure product (left ventricular developed pressure multiplied by heart rate) attenuated the decrease of coronary flow during reperfusion. The cardiac protective effect of high dose AAP was more potent than that of compound radix salviae miltiorrhizae (CRSM, 4 ml/(kg x d), gastric perfusion for 4 weeks). Pretreatment with AAP (100 mg/(kg x d)) markedly inhibited the increase of MDA level and the decrease of SOD activity induced by I/R in myocardium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings indicate that in the isolated rat heart, AAP protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via enhancing the activity of SOD and reducing lipid peroxidation in heart.</p>

Determination of serum argininosuccinate lyase in diagnosing liver diseases / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of the determination of the levels of serum argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) in diagnosing various liver diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and ninety-one patients with various liver diseases, 257 patients with non-liver disease, and 32 healthy controls were recruited for this study and their serum ASL, ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, ALP, and total bilirubin (TBil) levels were determined. Liver biopsies were performed on 31 patients with hepatopathy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of ASL in assessing liver diseases were 100% and 91.1% (at cut-off values of 8 U/L), those of ALT were 97.6% and 24.7% and those of AST were 83.8% and 28.3% (both at cut-off values = 40.0 U/L), respectively. The levels of ASL in various liver disease patients were: in liver cancer - acute hepatitis - liver cirrhosis - chronic hepatitis. A positive correlation (r = 0.417) was observed between serum ASL levels (86.9+/-26.5) and scores of histopathological inflammation grading (9.83+/-3.36).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ASL is of higher sensitivity and specificity than those of ALT and AST for diagnosing liver diseases. ASL may be used as a useful marker in estimating hepatopathy.</p>

Effects of alligator Zhikegao on relieving cough dispelling phlegm and anti-inflammation / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To research the effects of Alligator Zhikegao on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm and anti-inflammation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The coughing tests in mice, the phenol red secreting tests in mice, ear edema tests in mice,and paw edema tests and subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats were adopted for observing the related pharmacological effects of Alligator Zhikegao.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Alligator Zhikegao could obviously prolong the latent period and decrease the times of mouse coughing, and remarkably inhibit the mouse ear edema (P < 0.001), the rat paw edema and the hyperplasia of subcutaneous cotton ball granuloma in rats. Alligator Zhikegao 11.70 g x kg(-1) could significant improve the carbonic clearances of macrophages (P <0.05) and the hemolysin level in serum (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alligator Zhikegao has significant effects on relieving cough, dispelling phlegm, anti-inflammation and immunological regulation.</p>

The alterations of nitric oxide synthase activity of ventricular cardiac muscle of rats in two septic shock models / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To observe the differences of hemodynamics and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity of ventricular cardiac muscle in two septic shock models and explore the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two rat models of septic shock[lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic shock] were used. The hemodynamic parameters and nitric oxide synthase activity of ventricular cardiac muscle were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hemodynamic parameters in CLP-induced model were increased in the early stage and decreased in the late stage while in LPS-induced model the parameters showed the same change of the CLP late stage. Both LPS model and CLP model (late stage) showed significant increase in NOS activity, but there was no difference between the two models. After treatment of the NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the parameters of CLP-late stage and LPS model increased significantly. The NOS activity reached the highest level in the CLP-middle stage. The production of nitrite/nitrate decreased significantly in LPS model and CLP model(late stage) after treatment of L-NAME, but the nitrite/nitrate produced by constitutive NOS in LPS model was higher than CLP model(late stage).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of the NOS activity may be the main reason to lead to the depression of the hemodynamic parameters. Inducible NOS may play the leading role in the LPS model while cNOS and iNOS have the same effect in the CLP model.</p>