Improvement of Left Ventricular Remodelling by Inhibition of NF-κB in a Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction.

Background: To investigate the effects of inhibition of NF-κB activation on left ventricular (LV) remodelling in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The acute MI model was established by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (20mg/kg, Qd) was administered intraperitoneally to inhibit NF-κB activation.

The inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid B on TGF-β1-induced proliferation and differentiation in lung fibroblasts.

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), one of the major water-soluble compounds of Danshen (a popular Chinese herb), possesses many of the biological activities, such as antifibrogenic effect in liver and renal diseases. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a central role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis by stimulating extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and activating fibroblasts. Here, we investigated the effects of Sal B on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, endogenous TGF-β1 production, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, a marker of myofibroblasts) expression in human lung fibroblasts stimulated by TGF-β1 in vitro.

Septicemic melioidosis: a case report and literature review.

This report was about a 22-year-old male patient who died from acute and severe septicemic melioidosis. He was initially misdiagnosed as having pneumonia in a local hospital in Hainan but transferred to Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital after ineffective treatment and detection of Burkholderia pseudomallei in his blood sample. Unfortunately, right diagnosis and antibiotic treatment of melioidosis had been delayed so that his condition deteriorated rapidly out of control.

[Effects of Notch signaling pathway and vascular endothelial growth factor gene on the functions of endothelial cells derived from rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To explore the effects of Notch signaling pathway and the vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF(165)] gene on the functions of endothelial cells derived from rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: Isolated and cultivated rat bone marrow MSCs in vitro, then the cells were treated by VEGF165 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for 2 weeks to induce them to differentiate into endothelial cells. The gene of VEGF165 was transfected into differentiated endothelial cells to promote the functions of the cells.

[The role of Notch signaling during the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into endothelial cells].

Objective: To research the role of Notch signaling during the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into endothelial cells and its effect on the functions of the differentiated cells.

Methods: Rat bone marrow MSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro, then the cells were treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for 2 weeks to induce it to differentiate into endothelial cells. The differentiated cells were identified by fluorescence immunoassay.

[The effects of the plasma levels of serotonin and neuropeptide on ventilated patients with Yitongshu acupuncture points injection].

Objective: To evaluate the change in the plasma levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and neuropeptide (beta-endorphin, beta-EP) after injection of Yitongshu into Zusanli points in patients under mechanical ventilation.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients undergoing mechanical ventilation were randomly divided into two groups: midazolam combined with fentanyl group (control group, n=14) and midazolam combined with fentanyl and Yitongshu group (Yitongshu group, n=14). The drugs were given to the patients continuously intravenously with an injection pump in an even rate, with the dosage adjusted to reach the sedative target of visual analog score (VAS)< or =3-4 and Ramsay 2-4.

Modulatory effect of CCK-8S on GABA-induced depolarization from rat dorsal root ganglion.

CCK is a brain-gut peptide that is abundantly distributed in both gastrointestinal tract and mammalian brain. The sulfated octapeptide fragment of cholecystokinin (CCK-8S) has been shown to be involved in numerous physiological functions such as behavior, anxiety, learning/memory processes and neuropathic pain. CCK-8S is one of the strongest endogenous anti-opioid substances and suppresses opioid peptides-mediated 'pre-synaptic inhibition' of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release.