A Rapid Method of Preparing the Plasma Membrane Enriched Fraction of the Bovine Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Purpose: To devise a rapid method of isolating the plasma membrane enriched fraction (PMEF) of the bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with Percoll cen-trifugation medium.Methods : The bovine RPE was homogenised with a tight fit Dounce homogeniser and centrifuged in a 16. 7% Percoll gradient for 20 minutes. The RPE particulate fractions were characterised in terms of their protein concentrations, Na/K-ATPase and bicarbonate stimulated ATPase activities.Results ; The total protein recovery was 88.7% of the RPE homogenate. The nucleus layer was identified at the first band. The mitochondrial fraction was at the second layer according to its bicarbonate stimulated ATPase activity. The 3rd and 4th bands were enriched with plasma membranes and their Na/K-ATPase activities were 31. 5 and 34.6 μmol/mg/h respectively. The Na/K-ATPase activities were about six times that of the RPE homogenate.Conclusions: A rapid method of isolating the bovine RPE PMEF has been devised which involved a single

Effect of advanced age on plasma homocysteine levels and its association with ischemic stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background Elevated homocysteine （Hcy） has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation （AF） pa- tients, while the age-related expression pattern of plasma Hcy in AF remains unknown. The study was aimed to investigate the effect of ad- vanced age on plasma Hcy levels and its association with ischemic stroke in non-valvular AF patients. Methods A total of 2562 consecu- tive patients with non-valvular AF and 535 controls were enrolled and divided into six age groups. Plasma Hcy levels were analyzed among different age groups, and the effect of advanced age on Hcy was investigated. Results Plasma Hcy levels did not show any difference among groups aged below 65 years, while it increased sharply in patients aged 65-74 years and aged over 75 years （15.7 ±4.6 μmol/L, 17.1 ±4.9 μmol/L, both P 〈 0.01 compared with the first four age groups）. Hcy was much higher in AF patients than in controls at the same age group （all P 〈 0.05）. The proportion of patients with hyperhomocysteinemia increased gradually with age from 32.3%, 29.2%, 31.2%, 32.4%, 45.9%, to 51.4% in six age groups. The concentration of Hcy in AF patients with ischemic stroke increased progressively with age, and was higher than those without stroke at the same age. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age 65-74 years [odds ratios （OR）： 1.742, 95% confidence interval （CI）： 1.223-2.482, P = 0.002] and age ≥ 75 years （OR： 2.637, 95% CI： 1.605-4.335, P 〈 0.001） were significantly independent predictors of elevated plasma Hcy levels. Conclusions Advanced age was significantly associated with elevated Hcy levels, which may provide a possible explanation for the progressive increase in ischemic stroke especially in elderly AF patients.

Study progression of recombinant human endostatin (Endostar) for the treatment of malignant serous effusion

Since recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin;Endostar) has been listed 5 years,clinicians have combined it with chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancers and other malignant tumors,and proved its effect and safety.A number of scholars have explored the application of Endostar alone or in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of malignant serous effusion,finding its high efficiency and low toxicity;and that hydrops controlling is stronger,and that it can significantly improve patients' quality of life.It is worthy of conducting prospective,randomized and multi-center clinical studies and basic researches to clarify the mechanism.

Effect of Lianshu preparation on lipopolysaccharide-induced diarrhea in rats

AIM： To investigate the effect of Lianshu preparation on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced diarrhea in rats. METHODS： A diarrhea model was established in Sprague Dawley rats via injection of 1 mL of 30 mg/kg LPS. A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into normal group, LPS group, LPS ＋ Lianshu group, LPS ＋ berberine group （n = 10 in each group）. Their intestinal mucosal barrier and frequency of diarrhea were observed. Levels of glucose, serum Na^＋, K^＋, Cl and hematocrit, plasma nitrogen monoxide （NO）, diamine oxidase （DAO）, and D （-）-lactate were measured. The number of IgA＋ plasma cells in small intestine was detected and SIgA levels in the intestinal fluid were measured. The antipyretic activity of Lianshu preparation in rats was evaluated using Brewer＇s yeast-induced pyrexia （10 mL/kg of 20% aqueous suspension）. Acetaminophen （250 mg/kg, intragastric administration, bid） was comparison. Temperature used as a standard drug for was recorded 1 h before and 6 h after Brewer＇s yeast injection. Finally, small intestina transmission in mice treated with Lianshu was detected after intraperitoneal injection of methyl prostigmin （2 mg/kg）. Atropine （10 g/kg） was used as a control. The ink content in intestine was determined and the total length of intestine was measured. RESULTS： The frequency of diarrhea was higher in LPS group than in LPS ＋ Lianshu group and LPS ＋ berberine group （36.70± 5.23 vs 28.50 ±4.06 and 32.70±9.30 respectively, P 〈 0.01）, and lower in LP5 ＋ Lianshu group than in LPS ＋ berberine group （P = 0.03）. The levels of Na＋, glucose, Cl, K^＋ were significantly lower in LPS ＋ Lianshu group than in LPS ＋ berberine group （140.35±3.19 mmol/L vs 131.99±4.86 mmol/L, 8.49 ±1.84 mmol/L vs 6.54±2.30 mmol/L, 106.29± 4.41 mmol/L vs 102.5±1.39 mmol/L, 5.08±0.66 mmol/L vs 4.32 ± 0.62 mmol/L respectively, P 〈 0.05）. The level of hematocrit was lower in LPS ＋ Lianshu group than in LPS ＋ berberine group （0.50% ±0.07% vs 0.59%± 0.10% respectively, P 〈 0.05）. The plasma levels of NO, DAO and D （-）-lactate were higher in LPS group than in normal group （79.74 ± 7.39μmol/L vs 24.94 ± 3.38μmol/L, 2.48 ±0.42μ/mL vs 0.82 ±0.33 p/mL, 5.63± 0.85μg/mL vs 2.01 ±0.32 μg/mL respectively, P 〈 0.01）, and lower in LPS ＋ Lianshu group than in LP5 ＋ berberine group （48.59±4.70μmol/L vs 51.56 ±8.38 μmol/L, 1.43± 0.53μmol/mL vs 1.81 ±0.42 μmol/mL, 4.00± 0.54 μg/mL vs 4.88 ± 0.77 pg/mL respectively, P 〈 0.05）. The morphology of the intestinal mucosa showed destroyed villi in LPS group and atrophied intestinal mucosa in other groups. The pathological intestinal mucosal changes were less in LPS ＋ Lianshu group than in LPS group. The number of IgA＋ plasma cells and amount of SIgA were higher in LPS ＋ Lianshu group than in LPS group （1.16±0.19/μm^2 vs 1.09±0.28/μm^2, P = 0.026; 0.59 ±0.12 mg/L vs 0.15± 0.19 mg/L respectively, P = 0.000）. Lianshu had counteractive effects on yeast-induced pyrexia and enterokinesia in rats. CONCLUSION： Lianshu preparation has therapeutic effects on LPS-induced diarrhea and enterokinesia in rats.

Coexistence of tuberculous peritonitis and primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum:A case report and review of the literature

A major diagnostic challenge to the evaluation of an incomplete intestinal obstruction is to distinguish between infectious and malignant etiologies.We present a case of an elderly woman complaining of abdominal pain accompanied with nausea and vomiting,and failure to pass gas or stools.Anti-tuberculosis drugs were used to relieve her abdominal pain,and a needle biopsy of the peritoneal cavity showed evidence of primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum(PSCP). This is a rare description of tuberculosis in the setting of PSCP.This report illustrates the potential complex nature of malignancies,and emphasizes the need to consider coexistence of malignancy and infection in patients, especially in those with risk factors for malignancy who fail with antibiotic therapy.

CHANGES OF PLASMA ENDOTHELIN CONCENTRATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON MITRAL VALVULOPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH MITRAL STENOSIS

Plasma concentrations of endothelin in bloor from the femoral vein and the antecubital vein were measured in 35 patients with mitral stenosis and heart failure before and after percutaneous balloon mitralvalvuloplasty(PBMV). The basal plasma concentrations of endothelin in blood from the antecubirtal vein in the patients were significantly higher than those in 32 control subjects (15. 40± 3. 32 vs. 9. 59± 2. 66 pg/ml, P<0. 001). Plasma endothelin concentrations in patients in New York Heart Association functional classes Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than those in control subjects, respectively. The concentrations of endothelin in patients with atrial fibrillation were also significantly higher than those in patients with normal sinus rhythm. Ten to fifteen minutes after PBMV, plasma endothelin concentrations in blood from the femoral vein significantly decreased from 16. 14 ± 3. 34 to 13. 74 ± 3. 78 pg/ml (P<0. 01 ). Seventy-two hours after the procedure, the concentrations of endothelin in blood from the antecubital vein had fallen to 12. 31 ± 2. 55 pg/ml (P<0. 001 vs. before PBMV and control subjects). Plasma endothelin concentrations still tended to be higher in patients with atrial fibrillation than those in normal sinus rhythm, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. There were weak but significantly correlations of plasma endothe lin concentrations with the mean left atrial pressure (r= 0. 424 , P < 0.001 ), mean right atrial pressure (r=0. 323, P<0. 01), mean transmitral pressure gradient (r= 0. 397, P<0. 001), heart rate (r= 0. 350,P<0. 005)and mitral valve area (r=-0. 454, P<0. 001) in the patients before and after PBMV.

丹参多酚酸盐对重度慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期患者血小板和内皮细胞功能的影响

目的探讨丹参多酚酸盐（DsM）对重度慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期（AEc0PD）患者血小板和血管内皮细胞功能变化的影响。方法将40例中重度AECOPD患者按随机数字表法分为常规治疗组、DSM组，每组20例；并选择同期20例健康者作为健康对照组。两组常规治疗相同；DSM组每日加用DSM0．2g静脉滴注，连用2周。应用酶联免疫吸附法检测血浆膜糖蛋白140（GMP140）和血管性血友病因子（vMF），应用流式细胞术检测血小板膜糖蛋白P一选择素／血小板质膜蛋白（cD62P／cD61）表达双阳性血小板百分率。结果两个治疗组治疗前GMPl40[常规治疗组（17．51士2．75）pg／L，DSM组（16．94±2．57）μg／L3、vMF水平[常规治疗组（13．64±2．37）μg／L，DSM组（14．14±2．17）μg／L3及CD62P／CD61双阳性血小板百分率[常规治疗组（20．24±2．64）％，DsM组（19．54±2．69）％]较健康对照组[（9．25±1．80）μg／L、（6．13±1．17）μg／L、（11．21±1．11）％]均显著上升（均P〈0．01）；治疗后两组GMP140、vMF水平及CD62P／CD61双阳性血小板百分率显著降低，且DSM组的下降幅度[GMP140（3．91±0．57）μg／L，vWF（3．86土0．71）μg／L，CD62P／CD61（3．69±0．62）％]较常规治疗组[GMPl40（2．30±0．33）μg／L，vWF（2．72±0．45）μg／L，CD62P／CD61（2．24±0．45）％]更为显著（均P〈0．01），但是均高于正常水平。结论DSM有显著抑制血管内皮细胞和血小板活化的作用，可预防血栓性疾病。