Study on anti-atherosclerotic effect of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill and its mechanism.

Background: Suxiao Jiuxin Pill is composed of Ligusticum wallichii, Borneolum Syntheticum and other drugs; it has qi promoting and blood circulation activating, meridian dredging and pain relieving efficacies. The objective of this paper is to study the effect of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (quick-acting heart reliever), in atherosclerosis (AS) rat model and explore the mechanism for its prevention and treatment of AS.

Materials And Methods: AS rat model was established by high cholesterol diet and single intra-peritoneal injection of increased dose of vitamin D3.

Effect of CYP2C9*3 mutant variants on meloxicam pharmacokinetics in a healthy Chinese population.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the CYP2C9*3 (CYP2C9 1075 A>C) polymorphism on meloxicam pharmacokinetics in a Chinese population. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The pyrosequencing technique was used to identify polymorphisms of CYP2C9.

In vitro evidence for endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC)'s inhibition of drug metabolism.

Background: Humans can be frequently exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA) via multiple sources, and babies are considered to be the most sensitive group to exposure of BPA.

Aims: To investigate the inhibition potential of BPA towards human liver microsomes (HLMs)-catalyzed zidovudine (AZT) glucuronidation.

Materials And Methods: In vitro HLMs incubation system was used to investigate the inhibition potential of BPA towards AZT glucuronidation.

Giant intraosseous schwannoma of scapula: a rare case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: Bony schwannoma is a rare benign tumor derived from schwann cells of nerve fibers in the bone. It accounts for less than 1% of bony benign tumor, and prone to occur in the sacrum and mandible, occurrence in scapula is very rare. Here we report a 42-year-old woman with the chief complaint of pain in the left scapula.

The value of early diagnostic screens for the diagnosis of influenza A, B and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.

Background: Rapid diagnosis of influenza virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections is of importance for therapeutic intervention. It was the aim of the study to evaluate screening tests for influenza A (Flu A), B (Flu B), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infections in young patients admitted to the hospital.

Diabetes education improves depressive state in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: The prevalence of depression is relatively high in individuals with diabetes. However, screening and monitoring of depressive state in patients with diabetes is still neglected in developing countries and the treatment of diabetes-related depression is rarely performed in these countries. In this study, our aim was to study the role of diabetes education in the improvement of depressive state in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes.

Minimally invasive resection of brainstem cavernous malformations: surgical approaches and clinical experiences with 38 patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide a retrospective review of patients with brain stem cavernous malformation (BSCM) at single institution.

Methods: Clinical courses were retrospectively reviewed for 38 consecutive patients who underwent microsurgical resection of symptomatic BSCMs in the sub-acute phase between January 2000 and December 2009. Microsurgery was performed with the help of intraoperative neuronavigation and neurophysiological monitoring.

[Invasive lobular carcinoma of basal-like subtype of breast: a clinicopathologic analysis].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features, clinical progress and prognosis of the basal-like subtype of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast.

Methods: Four cases of ILC were analyzed by detailed histopathologic observation and immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin, p120 catenin, ER, PR, HER2, CK5/6, EGFR, p63, p53, Ki-67 using MaxVision method. The follow-up and clinical data were analyzed.

Distal transsylvian-traninsular approach for the putaminal hypertensive hemorrhages: surgical experience and technical note.

Background: Up to now, no systemic studies about the surgical approaches and microsurgical techniques of distal transsylvian-transinsular approach to putaminal hypertensive intracranial hemorrhages (PHHs) were reported.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 68 consecutive patients with PHH who underwent surgical treatment at the Department of the affiliated Bayi Brain Hospital, the Military General Hospital of Beijing PLA, from May 2009 to December 2011.

Results: By using transsylvian-transinsular approach, near-complete (>90%) evacuation was achieved in 51 cases (75%).

Linear ordered collagen scaffolds loaded with collagen-binding basic fibroblast growth factor facilitate recovery of sciatic nerve injury in rats.

Natural biological functional scaffolds, consisting of biological materials filled with promoting elements, provide a promising strategy for the regeneration of peripheral nerve defects. Collagen conduits have been used widely due to their excellent biological properties. Linear ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) fibers are good lumen fillers that can guide nerve regeneration in an ordered direction.

Inhibitory effect of co-administration of atorvastatin and endothelin-1 receptor antagonist on the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbit.

Atorvastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor antagonist have been separately indicated to ameliorate disease progression in atherosclerosis. However, no study has evaluated the effect of their combination on atherosclerosis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the direct in vivo effects of a combination regimen of atorvastatin and ET-1 receptor antagonist on male New Zealand white rabbit models of atherosclerosis (injury-induced).

Study on the effect of polysaccharides from Solanum nigrum Linne on cellular immune function in tumour-bearing mice.

We investigated the anti-tumour effect of polysaccharides from Solanum nigrum Linne, and its relationship with the immune function of tumour-bearing organisms. MTT assay was used to observe the effect of different doses of polysaccharides from Solanum nigrum Linne on proliferation of lymphocytes in tumour-bearing mice. ELISA assay was also used to detect the levels of IL-2 in mice, and a laser scanning confocal microscope was used to detect the effect of polysaccharides from Solanum nigrum Linne on intralymphocytic free calcium ion concentration in tumour-bearing mice.

Dual expression of hTERT and VEGF prolongs life span and enhances angiogenic ability of aged BMSCs.

Previous studies have confirmed the therapeutic effects of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation on cerebral ischemia. However, the proliferative, differentiative, and homing capacity of BMSC from the elderly are significantly reduced, especially after several passages expansion in vitro. In this study, by introducing lentivirus-mediated hTERT and VEGF genes to modify human BMSCs from aged donors, we observed extended lifespan, promoted angiogenic capacity while less enhanced tumorigenicity of the genetically engineering BMSCs.

MicroRNA-145 function as a cell growth repressor by directly targeting c-Myc in human ovarian cancer.

MiR-145 is reported to be significantly down-regulated in ovarian cancer. This study was aimed at elucidating the roles of miR-145 in regulating the biological behavior of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. In this report, we find out that up-regulation of miR-145 in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.

Adherence to treatment and influencing factors in a sample of Chinese epilepsy patients.

Aim: To assess adherence to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and factors associated with non-adherence in a sample of Chinese patients with epilepsy.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on patients who had no change in treatment regimen over the last six months. Data on adherence to medication and related factors for each patient were gathered using a questionnaire.

Acitretin exhibits inhibitory effects towards UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A9-mediated 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) and propofol glucuronidation reaction.

The present study aimed to evaluate the potential risk of drug-drug interactions associated with acitretin which is a drug for therapy of psoriasis approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The initial screening of acitretin's inhibition towards 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) glucuronidation catalyzed by important UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms in the liver showed that UGT1A9 activity was strongly inhibited by acitretin with other UGT isoforms negligibly influenced. The inhibition type is best fit to competitive inhibition, and the inhibition kinetic parameter (K(i)) was determined to be 3.

Internet usage for health information by patients with epilepsy in China.

Purpose: Most patients with epilepsy report a desire for more information on the disease and possible treatments than provided by clinicians. In the past two decades, many have turned to the internet for information, but this information is of variable accuracy and objectivity. We assessed the prevalence of internet use for gathering information about epilepsy and patient satisfaction in a sample of epilepsy patients in China.

X-ray computed tomography and sonography features of continuous splenogonadal fusion.

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly where the spleen is attached to either testicular or ovarian tissues. In present case, splenogonadal fusion presents as a large mass consciously connected to atrophic testis in left scrotum. The diagnosis of splenic gonadal fusion relies on radiologic and pathologic findings.

Glatiramer acetate, an anti-demyelination drug, reduced rats' epileptic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol via protection of myelin sheath.

Glatiramer acetate (GA) is a clinically prescribed immunomodulator drug used to treat demyelinating disease like multiple sclerosis (MS). Persistent down-regulation in the expression of myelin sheath proteins has been observed in both rats with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced chronic epilepsy and some clinical epilepsy patients. Hypothetically, protection of myelin sheath by pharmaceutical means in the process of epilepsy might, to some extent, be helpful to control epileptic seizures.

Bone loss in Gorham's disease: A case study.

In this study, a rare disease with characteristics of spontaneous osteolysis of the bone is reported. The patient was an eight-year-old male, who was admitted with shortness of breath. The absence of the right clavicle was identified by radiography.

Treatment of huge hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage by surgery and cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

Objective: There is limited information available regarding the treatment of huge hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage (HPH). This study aimed to evaluate our experience of 33 patients with huge HPH who were treated by open surgery (decompressive craniectomy and hematoma evacuation) and external cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 33 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital with huge HPH (≥ 60 cm(3)).

Evaluation of a rapid detection influenza virus a antigens kit using paired serum antibody test.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility for gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) in rapid detection of influenza virus A infection.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three patients were enrolled. All patients contributed nasopharyngeal secretions and paired serum samples.

High glucose inhibits osteogenic differentiation through the BMP signaling pathway in bone mesenchymal stem cells in mice.

Patients with diabetes tend to have an increased risk of osteoporosis that may be related to hyperglycemia. In vitro evidence has shown that high glucose can affect the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Tissue regeneration depends mainly on MSCs.

PLK1 gene suppresses cell invasion of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma through the inhibition of CD44v6, MMP-2 and MMP-9.

The aim of this study was to observe the regulatory action of the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) gene in the invasion of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells and investigate its mechanisms. The expression of the PLK1 protein in 36 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemical staining. siRNA against PLK1 was designed, synthesized and transfected into ARO cells.