Ultrasound- and Electrical Stimulation-guided Botulinum Toxin Injection for Cricopharyngeal Achalasia Dysphagia: A Case Report / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To apply Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection for cricopharyngeal achalasia dysphagia guided by ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Methods:A case with cricopharyngeal achalasia dysphagia was reviewed. Results:He ate food almost in normal way six days after injection, and cricopharyngeus was open seven days after injection. Conclusion:BTX-A injection under ultrasound- and electrical stimulation-guide is effective on cricopharyngeal achalasia dysphagia.

CT-guided Botulinum Toxin Injection into Cricopharyngeus for Dysphagia after True Bulbar Palsy: a Case Report / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To explore the effect of CT-guided Botulinum toxin injection into cricopharynx muscle on dysphagia caused by true bulbar palsy. Methods:A case of dysphagia caused by true bulbar palsy was treated with CT-guided Botulinum toxin injection and its therapeutic effect was reported. Results:The patient had dysphagia after brainstem infarction and was diagnosed as true bulbar palsy. After routine rehabilitation of dysphagia and balloon dilatation, her dysphagia relieved, but reappeared three times. Botulinum toxin was injected into the loop pharynx muscle under the guidance of CT, the clinical effect was remarkable, and no recurrence of the disease appeared in the follow-up. Conclusion:CT-guided Botulinum toxin injection into cricopharyngeus is effective on dysphagia caused by true medullary palsy, and the probability of recurrence is small.

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic activity of bioactive extracts from corn tassel / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study is designed to evaluate antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of corn tassel extracts (CTTs). The major bioactive components of CTTs include flavonoid, saponin and polysaccharide. The antioxidant properties of the three bioactive components of CTTs were investigated by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Property (FRAP) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The activities of the extracts were determined by assessing the inhibition of mutagenicity of the direct-acting mutagen fenaminosulf, sodium azide, and indirect-acting mutagen 2-aminofluorene using the Ames test (strains TA98 and TA100). The results showed that the extraction rates of flavonoid, saponin, and polysaccharide from the dried corn tassels were 1.67%, 2.41% and 4.76% respectively. DPPH and FRAP assay strongly demonstrated that CTTs had antioxidant properties. CTTs at doses of 625, 1250 and 2500 μg per plate reduced 2-aminofluorene mutagenicity by 12.52%, 28.76% and 36.49% in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain assay respectively and by 10.98%, 25.27% and 37.83%, at the same doses in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 assay system, respectively. 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the different concentrations of CTTs inhibited the proliferation of MGC80-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). It is concluded that these integrated approaches to antioxidant and antigenotoxicity assessment may be useful to study corn tassel as a natural herbal material.

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic activity of bioactive extracts from corn tassel / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study is designed to evaluate antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of corn tassel extracts (CTTs). The major bioactive components of CTTs include flavonoid, saponin and polysaccharide. The antioxidant properties of the three bioactive components of CTTs were investigated by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Property (FRAP) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The activities of the extracts were determined by assessing the inhibition of mutagenicity of the direct-acting mutagen fenaminosulf, sodium azide, and indirect-acting mutagen 2-aminofluorene using the Ames test (strains TA98 and TA100). The results showed that the extraction rates of flavonoid, saponin, and polysaccharide from the dried corn tassels were 1.67%, 2.41% and 4.76% respectively. DPPH and FRAP assay strongly demonstrated that CTTs had antioxidant properties. CTTs at doses of 625, 1250 and 2500 μg per plate reduced 2-aminofluorene mutagenicity by 12.52%, 28.76% and 36.49% in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain assay respectively and by 10.98%, 25.27% and 37.83%, at the same doses in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 assay system, respectively. 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the different concentrations of CTTs inhibited the proliferation of MGC80-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). It is concluded that these integrated approaches to antioxidant and antigenotoxicity assessment may be useful to study corn tassel as a natural herbal material.

Study on the differential gene expressions of chronic hepatitis B patients of gan depression pi deficiency syndrome and pi-wei damp-heat syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the differential gene expressions of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) of Gan depression Pi deficiency syndrome (GDPDS) and Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ulnar venous blood was withdrawn from healthy subjects (26 cases), patients of GDPDS (35 cases) and PWDHS (34 cases) on an empty stomach. The total RNA was extracted using Trizol method. The differential genes were detected using Aglient expression profile chip and screened using randomized variance model. The results were analyzed using GO, Pathway, GeneBank, NCBI, and Geneontology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 125 differential genes between CHB patients of GDPDS and those of PWDHS (including 66 up-regulated genes and 59 down-regulated genes), mainly involving in functions of transmembrane transport, response to selenium ion, and regulation of calcium ion-dependent exocytosis. The signal pathway participated in mainly includes cell adhesion molecules, calcium ion signaling pathway, leukocyte trans-endothelial migration. We present gene co-expression networks to find 9 interactions among genes (LOC340508, HIST2H2BE, MPL, FLJ22536, TUBA8, NT5M, EGFL7, PTPRF, TSPAN33), which were mainly involved in immune response, cell growth, DNA damage, signal transduction, inflammatory reaction, and so on.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The differential expression genes existed between CHB patients of GDPDS and those of PWDHS, indicating that Chinese medicine syndrome classification has its own basis for gene expression profile. The genomics research method is expected to provide an objective basis for Chinese medicine syndrome typing.</p>

Factors Predicting the Efficacy of Adefovir Dipivoxil on Treatment-Naive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients at 48 Weeks

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To reveal possible factors predicting the effect of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and optimize the utilization of ADV. METHODS: In total, 168 treatment-naive CHB patients were enrolled, including 117 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients and 51 HBeAg-negative patients who met the inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with ADV 10 mg per day for 48 weeks. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to investigate baseline factors, and responses at weeks 12 and 24 were analyzed as predictive values. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses showed that baseline HBeAg status and HBV DNA levels significantly affected the virological response (VR) (p or =10(3) copies/mL at week 24 is observed.

Irinotecan or oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as first-line therapy for advanced colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To compare clinical efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin with those of oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as first-line therapy for advanced colorectal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literature search was performed by keywords "irinotecan", "oxaliplatin" and "colorectal cancer" on all randomized controlled trails reported on irinotecan versus oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as first-line therapy for advanced colorectal cancer in MEDLINE, OVID, Springer, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) and CBMdisc (Chinese Biology and Medicine disc) before January 2010. Two authors drew the details of trial design, characteristics of patients, outcomes, and toxicity from the studies included. Data analysis was performed by RevMan 4.2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the screening criteria, 7 clinical studies with 2095 participants of advanced colorectal cancer were included in this meta analysis. The baseline characteristics of irinotecan group were similar to those of oxaliplatin group. The response rate of oxaliplatin group was higher than that of irinotecan group (relative risk (RR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) (0.70, 0.96), P = 0.01), and the median overall survival of oxaliplatin group was longer by 2.04 months than that of irinotecan group (95%CI (-3.54, -0.54), P = 0.008). In the comparison of grade 3 - 4 toxicity between the two groups, the incidences of nausea, emesis, diarrhoea and alopecia in irinotecan group were higher than those in oxaliplatin group (RR = 1.94, 95%CI (1.22, 3.09), P = 0.005; 1.71, 95%CI (1.34, 2.18), P < 0.001; 14.56, 95%CI (4.11, 51.66), P < 0.0001), respectively. However, the incidence of neurotoxicity, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in irinotecan group were lower than those in oxaliplatin group (RR = 0.06, 95%CI (0.03, 0.14), P < 0.00001; 0.70, 95%CI (0.55, 0.91), P = 0.006; 0.18, 95%CI (0.05, 0.61), P = 0.006), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both irinotecan and oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin were effective in the first-line therapy of advanced colorectal cancer. However, the combined regimen of oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin is more excellent. Irinotecan tended to result in more gastrointestinal tract reactions than oxaliplatin did, but the myelosuppression and neurotoxicity were more frequent in oxaliplatin regimen than irinotecan regimen.</p>

Reactive oxygen species scavenger protects cardiac cells against injuries induced by chemical hypoxia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), against H9c2 cardiomyocytes from injuries induced by chemical hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>H9c2 cells were treated with cobalt chloride (CoCl2), a chemical hypoxia-mimetic agent, to establish the chemical hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury model. NAC was added into the cell medium 60 min prior to CoCl2 exposure. The cell viability was evaluated using cell counter kit (CCK-8), and the intercellular ROS level was measured by 2', 7'- dichlorfluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining and photofluorography. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of the cells was observed by Rhodamine123 (Rh123) staining and photofluorography, and the ratio of GSSG/ (GSSG+GSH) was calculated according to detection results of the GSSG kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Exposure of H9c2 cardiomyocytes to 600 micromol/L CoCl2 for 36 h resulted in significantly reduced cell viability. Pretreatment with NAC at the concentrations ranging from 500 to 2000 micromol/L 60 min before CoCl2 exposure dose-dependently inhibited CoCl2-induced H9c2 cell injuries, and obviously increased the cell viability. NAC at 2000 micromol/L obviously inhibited the oxidative stress induced by CoCl2, decreased the ratio of GSSG/(GSSG+GSH), increased ROS level, and antagonized CoCl2-induced inhibition on MMP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NAC offers obvious protective effect on H9c2 cardiomyocytes against injuries induced by chemical hypoxia by decreasing in the ratio of GSSG/(GSSG+GSH) and ROS level and ameliorating MMP.</p>

Effects of angiotensin-(1-7) on oxidative stress and functional changes of isolated rat hearts induced by ischemia-reperfusion / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) on oxidative stress and functional changes in isolated rat hearts with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IR injury was induced in isolated rat hearts with the Langendorff' apparatus. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) of the rat heart was measured using a pressure transducer. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the myocardium were detected using commercial kits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Myocardial ischemia (15 min) and reperfusion (30 min) significantly increased myocardial levels of MDA, and reduced the SOD activity and LVSP (P<0.05). Pretreatment with Ang-(1-7) at 1.0 nmol/L 30 min before ischemia obviously inhibited IR-induced MDA increment and lowering of SOD activity and LVSP. Pretreatment of the rats with intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg indomethacin 1 h before isolation of the heart markedly antagonized the effect of Ang-(1-7) on MDA production, SOD activity and LVSP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Angiotensin-(1-7) can inhibit IR injury-induced oxidative stress and decrease in cardiac contractile function in isolated rat hearts. The mechanism underlying the effect of Ang-(1-7) may be associated with increased secretion of prostaglandin.</p>

Comparative study on effects of different acupuncture manipulation methods at neiguan (PC 6) on hand spasm in the patient of stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effects of different needling methods at Neiguan (PC 6) on hand spasm in the patient of stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and seventy-two cases were randomly divided into a simple acupuncture group (n=36), a slowly twirling needle group (n = 34), a rapidly twirling needle group (n = 30), a simple lifting-thrusting group (n = 35) and a lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group (n = 37). Acupuncture was given at Neiguan (PC 6), twice each day, 5 min each time, and in combination with rehabilitation exercise. Modified Ashworth scale and Fugl-Meyer (FMA) hand function score were used for assessment of therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transient effective rate and the effective rate after treatment for 8 weeks for hand spasm were 66.7% and 55.6% in the simple acupuncture group, 82.4% and 85.3% in the slowly twirling needle group, 96.7% and 90.0% in the rapidly twirling needle group, 80.0% and 82.9% in the simple lifting-thrusting group and 94.6% and 91.9% in the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group, the rapidly twirling needle group and the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group being better than other 3 groups (P<0.01). After treatment, the grades for Ashworth scale and FMA scores in the lifting-thrusting-twirling needle group and the rapidly twirling needle group were better than those in other 3 groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) has a very definite transient effect, and the lifting-thrusting-twirling needling manipulation and the rapidly twirling needling manipulation have the best inhibitive effect on spasm.</p>

The Phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion kinase in The Restenosis of Rat's Vein Graft:Modulation by Olmesartan / 中华高血压杂志

Objective To study the expression and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase(FAK) in rat's au- tologous vein graft and the olmesartan modulating effect.Methods Autologous external jugular veins were grafted to common carotid arteries in 40 male Sprague Dawley rats.After surgery,rats were randomly assigned to the fol- lowing groups:sham;control;olmesartan treatment(10mg/kg.d by gavage);or physiological saline.The intimal thickness,the I/M in vein grafts was quantitated by HE stain.The expression and phosphorylation of focal adhe- sion kinase were assessed by Western-blotting,PCNA and ?-smooth muscle actin were measured by immunohisto- chemistry.Results Neointimal hyperplasia in control group was characterized by significantly increased intimal thickeness I/M(P

The role of different needling manipulation in adjusting swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of different needling manipulation in improvement of swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and eleven cases were randomly divided into a single Lianquan RN 23 shallow needling group (group A ), single Lianquan (RN 23) deep needling group (group A2) and Lianquan (RN 23) and para-Lianquan deep multi-needling group (group B). The therapeutic effect was investigated after continuous treatment for 14 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 95. 0% in the group B, 65. 7% in the group A1 and 83. 3% in the group A2, with significant difference or very significant difference when the group B compared with the group A, and the group A, (P<0. 01 or P<0. 05); the cured and markedly effective rate was 82. 5% in the group B, 20. 0% in the group Al and 52. 8% in the group A2, with a very significant difference as the group B compared with the group A, and A2 (both P<O. 01). After treatment for 7 days, there were very significant differences in scores of swallow function as the group B compared with the group A, and A2 (both P<0. 01), indicating that the group B was better than the group A1 and AZ in improvement of sensitivity of swallow dysphagia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Deep needling with multi-needles can significantly improve swallow-period obstacle of dysphagia after stroke with higher safety and rapid effect.</p>

Expression of HSV-1 ICP0 Antigen Peptide in Prokaryotic Cells and Preparation of Specific Antibody / 中国病毒学

As an immediate-early protein of herpes simplex virus, infected-cell polypeptide 0 (ICP0) exhibits complicated interactions with host cells, and its regulatory function on gene expression is of great importance. Since the ICP0 encoding sequence contains many rare codons which are absent in E.coli, and ICP0 is highly unstable in prokaryotic cells, expression of entire ICP0 in prokaryotic cells has never been reported. In order to further investigate the function of ICP0, a recombinant plasmid was constructed by subcloning a cDNA fragment encoding an amino-terminal of 105 residues of the ICP0 protein into pGEX-5x-1 vector. The resulting GST-105 fusion antigen peptide was expressed with high efficiency in E.coli. Antibodies prepared after the immunization of mice with purified fusion protein can recognize not only the denatured ICP0 protein, but also the native ICP0 protein with normal biological conformation.

Study of hCTGF Repair on Bone Injury / 中国生物工程杂志

Object: To study the proliferation of hCTGF on cells and its biological function on bone injury healing.Methods: The fibroblast with potential differentiation was transfected by eukaryotic gene delivery system and then transferred into the experimental animal model with bone fracture.The data were collected by molecular biological and clinical orthopedic technique detection analysis.Results: The results demonstrated an obvious proliferation of hCTGF on cells,suggesting that hCTGF have the biological activity of repairing bone injury via gene therapy.The results provide a new activity factor and treatment approach for bone injury in clinics.

Experimental study of liver fibrosis reversal effect of warming-yang compound formula ganzhifu / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Ganzhifu (GZF), a Chinese compound formula for Warming-yang on experimental hepatic fibrosis, and to explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-nine Wistar rats were divided into the normal control group and the model group. After the hepatic fibrosis model was established in rats by subcutaneous injection of CCl4 and feeding 10% alcohol in the model group, the rats were randomly sub-divided into the Ganzhifu group, colchicine group and model group, they were treated with Ganzhifu, colchicine and normal saline of same volume once a day respectively for 30 days as one treatment course. The serum liver function and hepatic fibrosis indexes, liver tissue contents of hydroxyproline (Hyp), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured at the end of the experiment. Histologic changes of liver tissue were observed and scored by the modified inflammatory activity and fibrosis semiquantative scoring system (SSS), and collagen type I , III and IV in liver tissue were stained and semiquantitive analysis conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the Ganzhifu group, liver function and inflammatory activity and fibrosis SSS scores were markedly improved, indexes of hepatic fibrosis, liver contents of Hyp, MDA and collagen type I, III and IV were significantly decreased, and the SOD activity was increased, the changes were more significant as compared with those in the model group. The protective effect of Ganzhifu against hepatic fibrosis was the same as that of colchicine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ganzhifu can alleviate or reverse hepatic fibrosis in experimental hepatic fibrosis, and antioxidation may be its mechanism.</p>

Clinical observation on acupuncture combined with Xingnaojing injection for treatment of cerebral hemorrhage at acute stage / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effects of different therapies on intracerebral hemorrhage at acute stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-five cases of intracerebral hemorrhage at acute stage were randomly divided into a combined treatment group, an acupuncture group, a Xingnaojing group and a routine treatment group, and effects of different treatment programs on the hematoma absorption velocity and nervous function defect scores were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the treatment groups have obvious therapeutic effects for hematoma absorption and nervous function defect score, with the best therapeutic effect in the combined treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with Xingnaojing injectio is an effective therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage at acute stage.</p>

Effects of ACE inhibitor on the calcium transient and calcium handling proteins in ventricular myocytes from rats with heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of ACE inhibitor (perindopril) on the contractility and calcium transient and calcium handling proteins in ventricular myocytes from rats with experimental heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were randomized to heart failure group treated with perindopril (CHF-T, 3 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)), heart failure group without treatment (CHF-C) and sham-operated group (PS) after heart failure was induced by constricting abdominal aorta for 16 weeks. All groups were further followed up for 12 weeks. Left ventricular myocytes were isolated, and single cell shortening fraction and [Ca(2+)](i) were simultaneously measured through laser scanning confocal microscope under the field stimulation (1.0 Hz). RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to evaluate the level of mRNA and protein of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX(1)), sarcoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA(2)) and phospholamban (PLB).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fraction of cell shortening (FS%) and [Ca(2+)](i max) (nmol/L) were significantly smaller in group CHF-C than group PS (FS%: 7.51 +/- 1.15 vs 13.21 +/- 1.49; [Ca(2+)](i max): 330.85 +/- 50.05 vs 498.16 +/- 14.07; both P < 0.01). And in CHF-T group, FS and [Ca(2+)](i max) were greater than those in CHF-C group. In CHF-C group, the left ventricular mRNA of NCX(1) and PLB were significantly higher than those in PS group (R(NCX)(1)/beta-Actin: 0.51 +/- 0.12 vs 0.19 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01; R(PLB)/beta-Actin: 0.26 +/- 0.12 vs 0.20 +/- 0.08, P = 0.045), yet SERCA(2) mRNA was lower than PS group (0.48 +/- 0.10 vs 0.80 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01). In CHF-T group, the mRNA levels of NCX(1) and SERCA(2) were just in the midst of the CHF-C and PS group, and had statistical significance respectively (all P < 0.05). In CHF - C and CHF - T group, the protein levels of NCX(1) were 1.141 +/- 0.047 and 1.074 +/- 0.081 times PS group, respectively (both P < 0.05), and SERCA(2) protein levels were respectively 0.803 +/- 0.100 and 0.893 +/- 0.084 times as high as in PS group (both P < 0.05). The protein expression of NCX(1) and SERCA(2) were also different between CHF-C and CHF-T groups (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ACE inhibitor could improve cardiac function in CHF through directly enhancing the contractility of single myocardial cell, and these effects were probably mediated by its role in preventing the deleterious changes of calcium transient and calcium handling proteins in CHF.</p>

Influence of wen-yang herbs on hemodynamics in liver fibrotic rats / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To observe the influence of wen-yang herbs on the hemodynamics in liver fibrotic rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats with liver fibrosis, induced by carbon tetrachloride and alcohol, were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was administered wen-yang herbs and the control group saline. At the end of the experiment, the hemodynamic markers of the liver and the mesentery, the liver function and hydroxyproline content of liver tissues between the two groups were compared. Blood volume of the livers and hydroxyproline content of liver tissues were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood volume of the liver and mesentery (P < 0.01) and blood flow velocity of small vein of mesentery (P < 0.05) of the treatment group were distinctly higher than the control group. The hydroxyproline content (P < 0.01) of the treatment group was remarkably reduced and liver function was improved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Wen-yang herbs can activate microcirculation of the liver and mesentery, decrease the deposit of collagen in the liver and improve liver function.</p>

Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on the calcium transients and calcium handling proteins in ventricular myocytes from rats with heart failure / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with calcium transients and calcium handling proteins. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor has been demonstrated to have beneficial effect on CHF. Yet studies addressed to the relationship between ACE inhibitor and calcium transients in CHF are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ACE inhibitor (perindopril) on the contractility and calcium transients and calcium handling proteins in ventricular myocytes from rats with experimental heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were randomized to heart failure group treated with perindopril [CHF-T, 3 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)], heart failure group without treatment (CHF-C) and sham-operated group (PS). Heart failure was induced by abdominal aortic constriction. All groups were further followed up for 12 weeks. Left ventricular myocytes were then isolated. Single cell shortening fraction and [Ca(2+)]i were simultaneously measured by laser scanning confocal microscope under the field stimulation (1.0 Hz). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were performed to evaluate the changes of mRNA and protein of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1), sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2) and phospholamban (PLB).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fraction of cell shortening (FS%) and [Ca(2+)]imax (nmol/L) were significantly reduced in group CHF-C compared with group PS (FS%: 7.51 +/- 1.15 vs 13.21 +/- 1.49; [Ca(2+)]i max: 330.85 +/- 50.05 vs 498.16 +/- 14.07; both P < 0.01), and restored at least partially in CHF-T group. In CHF-C group, the left ventricular mRNA of NCX1 and PLB were significantly upregulated in comparing with PS group (RNCX1/beta-Actin: 0.51 +/- 0.12 vs 0.19 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01; RPLB/beta-Actin: 0.26 +/- 0.12 vs 0.20 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05), while SERCA2 mRNA was downregulated (0.48 +/- 0.10 vs 0.80 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01). The mRNA levels of NCX1 and SERCA2 in CHF-T group were between the CHF-C and PS group, and the differences of the latter two groups were significant (all P < 0.05). In CHF-C and CHF-T groups, the protein expression of NCX1 were 1.141 +/- 0.047 and 1.074 +/- 0.081 times of that in PS group respectively (both P < 0.05), and SERCA2 protein levels were 0.803 +/- 0.100 and 0.893 +/- 0.084 times of that in PS group respectively (both P < 0.05). The protein expression of NCX1 and SERCA2 in the CHF-C and CHF-T groups is significantly different (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ACE inhibitor could improve cardiac function of failing heart through directly enhancing the contractility of single cardiomyocyte, and these effects are probably mediated by its roles in preventing the deleterious changes of calcium transients and calcium handling proteins in CHF.</p>

Nosocomial Infections due to Staphylococcus aureus:Clinical Characteristics and Resistance Analysis / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the risk factors,clinical characteristics and resistance of Staphylococcus aureus nosocomial infections so as to guide the treatment of S.aureus infection.METHODS To collect clinical materials of S.aureus nosocomial infection and analyze risk factors and clinical characteristics and detect sensitivity of isolated strains to antibacterial agents.RESULTS Severe underlying diseases existed among 73 cases of S.aureus nosocomial infections,82.19 percent of patients had received invasive interventions.Lower respiratory tract was the most common infective site.Seventy-nine strains of S.aureus were isolated,including 66 meticillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA) and 13 meticillin-sensitive S.aureus(MSSA).S.aureus showed general resistance to many kinds of antibiotic drugs.The resistant rates of MRSA were much higher than those of MSSA(P