[Protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis compatibility against triptolide-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating Keap1/Nrf2/PGC-1α].

This paper aims to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis before and after compatibility against triptolide(TP)-induced hepatotoxicity. The experiment was divided into a blank group, model group, Astragalus membranaceus group, Angelica sinensis group, and compatibility groups with Astragalus membranaceus/Angelica sinensis ratio of 1∶1, 2∶1, and 5∶1. TP-induced hepatotoxicity model was established, and corresponding drug intervention was carried out.

Uric acid en route to gout.

Gout and hyperuricemia (HU) have generated immense attention due to increased prevalence. Gout is a multifactorial metabolic and inflammatory disease that occurs when increased uric acid (UA) induce HU resulting in monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in joints. However, gout pathogenesis does not always involve these events and HU does not always cause a gout flare.

Why Does Hyperuricemia Not Necessarily Induce Gout?

Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for gout. It has been well observed that a large proportion of individuals with hyperuricemia have never had a gout flare(s), while some patients with gout can have a normuricemia. This raises a puzzle of the real role of serum uric acid (SUA) in the occurrence of gout flares.

A statistical model for restoration of serum potassium level disturbed by hemolysis.

Background: Blood sample hemolysis affects pre-analytical quality and may cause pseudohyperkalemia. We established a statistical model to estimate the corrected potassium (K) in serum.

Methods: Serum K and H index were analyzed, and blood cell index was obtained from the examined Full Blood Examination (FBE) results.

An association of metabolic syndrome constellation with cellular membrane caveolae.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that can predispose an individual to a greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The cluster includes abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia - all of which are risk factors to public health. While searching for a link among the aforementioned malaises, clues have been focused on the cell membrane domain caveolae, wherein the MetS-associated active molecules are colocalized and interacted with to carry out designated biological activities.

The clinical significance comparison of a latex agglutination based syphilis screening test at low antibody titer.

The rapid increase of syphilis underscores a tremendous need to carefully evaluate many new serological tests for syphilis and choose efficient and economical strategies for syphilis screening, especially in the case of primary infection with low antibody titer. Between 2011 and 2012, 73 patients' sera samples were included in this retrospective study. They were either TRUST or TPPA reactive, either LA (latex agglutination) based auto3 TP or CLIA (chemiluminescence assay) based Architect Syphilis TP assay reactive.

Insulin-mediated activation of the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway in man, and its impairment in diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Impaired L-arginine transport has been reported in cardiovascular diseases, providing a possible mechanism for reduced nitric oxide (NO) production. Given that cardiovascular diseases are also associated with insulin resistance, and insulin is known to induce vasodilation via a NO-dependent pathway, we hypothesised that abnormal insulin modulation of L-arginine transport may contribute to vascular dysfunction in diabetes.

Methods: Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to insulin and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were measured in control and type 2 diabetic volunteers using venous occlusion plethysmography.

[Etiologic detection and epidemiological analysis of one suspected case of diphtheria in Guangdong province].

Objective: To clarify the diagnosis of one suspected case of diphtheria in Guangdong province by epidemiological analysis and etiologic detection.

Methods: On July 6th 2010, the corynebacterium diphtheria was detected from the nasal secretions of one nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient in a college-town hospital in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The patient and the close contacts were asked to participate in the epidemiological survey; and their nasopharyngeal swabs (3 samples) and the nasal secretions of the patient (1 sample) were collected.

Effect of peroxynitrite on endothelial L-arginine transport and metabolism.

Under conditions of oxidative stress it is well known that the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) is known to be significantly reduced. This process is in part due to the combination of NO with superoxide radicals to form peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). While this process inactivates NO per se, it is not certain to which extent this process may also further impair ongoing NO production.

Detrimental effect of oxidized LDL on endothelial arginine metabolism and transportation.

The action of oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein on vascular endothelial cells has been proposed to be a crucial process leading to endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. However, the biochemical mechanism for such action is not clear. We have previously shown that arginine uptake and metabolism are major determinants of endothelial function in heart failure and hypertension.

Determination of plasma free 3-nitrotyrosine and tyrosine by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan derivatization.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in pathogenesis of many diseases. Measurement of 3-nitrotyrosine (NO(2)Tyr), as a potential biomarker for nitric oxide-mediated damage, has recently been the focus of particular attention. We have developed an HPLC method with NBD-F pre-column derivatization followed by C(18) cartridge cleaning.

Adverse effects of cigarette smoke on NO bioavailability: role of arginine metabolism and oxidative stress.

Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease, and the l-arginine:NO pathway plays a critical role in determining endothelial function. Recent studies suggest that smoking, a well-recognized risk factor for vascular disease, may interfere with l-arginine and NO metabolism; however, this remains poorly characterized. Accordingly, we performed a series of complementary in vivo and in vitro studies to elucidate the mechanism by which cigarette smoke adversely affects endothelial function.

Age-associated increase in creatine kinase-MB-specific activity in human serum confounds its use as an injury marker.

This study retrospectively examined a consecutive series of patient CKMB samples for a relationship between age (242 subjects, aged from 20 to 96 years old), serum CKMB activity and corresponding mass results analyzed for CKMB-specific activity (activity per molecule, unit/mg). Patients were categorized into six age groups. The means for specific activity of CKMB, standard error and 95% confidence intervals of each group were calculated.

Impaired L-arginine transport and endothelial function in hypertensive and genetically predisposed normotensive subjects.

Background: Impaired endothelium-dependent NO-mediated vasodilation is a key feature of essential hypertension and may precede the increase in blood pressure. We investigated whether transport of the NO precursor L-arginine is related to decreased endothelial function.

Methods And Results: Radiotracer kinetics ([3H]L-arginine) were used to measure forearm and peripheral blood mononuclear cell arginine uptake in hypertensive subjects (n=12) and in 2 groups of healthy volunteers with (n=15) and without (n=15) a family history of hypertension.

Simultaneous determination of arginine and seven metabolites in plasma by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with a time-controlled ortho-phthaldialdehyde precolumn derivatization.

In an attempt to simultaneously detect molecules generated through the metabolism of l-arginine, a high-performance liquid chromatography method with on-line time-controlled preinjection reaction of ortho-phthaldialdehyde derivatization was developed. Plasma concentrations of citrulline, N(G)-hydroxy-l-arginine, N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine, asymmetric N (G), N (G)-dimethyl-l-arginine, symmetric N (G), N (G')-dimethyl-l-arginine, ornithine, and agmatine were analyzed within 35min, using only 20microl of sample, pretreated by a simple cold ethanol cleanup procedure. Plasma samples of 35 healthy human volunteers were analyzed and results were comparable to other published data.