Comparative morphometric and glycohistochemical studies on the epididymal duct in the donkey (Equus asinus) and dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The present study was undertaken to compare morphometric and glycohistochemical differences in the epididymal duct of the donkey and the dromedary camel. Paraffin-embedded sections from the different regions of the duct (caput, corpus and cauda) of both species were stained conventionally for general histology and histomorphometry and also with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated lectins for glycohistochemical mapping. Morphometric data (means ± SE) showed that the luminal diameter was widest (1029.76 ± 15.04 μm) in the donkey cauda and narrowest (179.80 ± 3.27 μm) in the camel corpus. The thickness of the peritubular muscle coat had the highest (74.32 ± 1.85 μm) and the lowest (24.32 ± 0.74 μm) values in the donkey cauda and corpus respectively. The greatest (94.44 ± 2.08 μm) and the least (21.48 ± 0.66 μm) values of epithelial height were reported respectively in the camel caput and in the donkey cauda. The length of stereocilia of principal cells in the camel was greatest (21.88 ± 0.57 μm) and lowest (6.68 ± 0.28 μm) in the caput and cauda. Binding sites for only six out of eight lectins could be found. The distribution pattern of binding sites of different lectins showed significant variations in both a species-specific and also region-specific manner. Distinct labeling was found in the Golgi zone, apical cytoplasm and on stereocilia of principal cells in the camel (WGA and DBA) and donkey (DBA) caput region, while other lectins exhibited variable reactivity in the other regions in both species. The basal cells showed variable binding to most of the lectins, however, they displayed distinct binding to WGA and PSA throughout the duct in camel and donkey respectively. In conclusion, both morphometric and glycohistochemical findings displayed regional species-specific and potentially functional relevant characteristics.     

Effects of lotus plumule supplementation before and following systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide on the splenocyte responses of BALB/c mice.

To determine whether lotus plumule supplementation alleviates acute systemic inflammation in vivo, the BALB/c mice were continuously supplemented with lotus plumule for 3 weeks, following administration with an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a concentration of 10mg/kg body weight (BW) to induce acute systemic inflammation. At 24h after injection of LPS, the mice were sacrificed and the visceral organ weight and splenocyte responses were measured. The results showed that lotus plumule supplementation did not significantly affect body weights and IL-6 secretion of splenocyte cultures from BALB/c mice. LPS challenge significantly increased the relative organ weights of the lungs, liver, and spleen, however low dose supplementation (40 mg/kg BW/day) with lotus plumule significantly decreased the relative organ weights of the inflammatory liver, spleen and kidney. Low dose supplementation with lotus plumule significantly increased IL-10 production of splenocyte cultures, however high dose supplementation (800 mg/kg BW/day) significantly decreased IL-10 production. These results suggest that low dose and 3-week supplementation of lotus plumule might alleviate acute systemic inflammation in vivo via decreasing the visceral organ inflammation and increasing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 from splenocytes. These results are valuable for developing future nutraceuticals and anti-inflammatory agents from traditional medicinal foods.     

藤茶和荷叶提取物对高脂血症大鼠降血脂作用的实验研究

目的建立高血脂动物模型,观察藤茶和荷叶提取物对高血脂模型大鼠血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL-C）、Lee＇s指数的影响.方法用高脂饲料喂养造模后,随机分为模型组、高剂量组20mg/kg、中剂量组10 mg/kg、低剂量组5 mg/kg及降脂药物组180 mg/kg,连续给药25 d.观察：①TC、TG、HDL-C;②体重变化;③肝重/体重比;④体脂湿重测定;⑤Lee＇s指数.结果各剂量实验组TC、TG和HDL值与模型组及降脂药物组比较差别无显著性（P＞0.05）;但中剂量和高剂量实验组与实验前比较TC值有显著降低（P＜0.05）,高剂量组与模型组比较,Lee＇s指数下降,差别有显著性（P＜0.05）.结论藤茶和荷叶提取物有降低血清胆固醇和减肥作用.     

莲房原花青素对乙醇诱导的人胚肝细胞株L-02氧化损伤的保护作用

目的研究莲房原花青素(LSPC)对乙醇诱导的人胚肝细胞株L-02氧化损伤的保护作用。方法观察200mmol·L-1乙醇,5、10、25mg·L-1的LSPC,5、10、25mg·L-1的LSPC与200mmol·L-1乙醇共同作用于肝细胞L-02 24h后,运用单细胞凝胶电泳(SCGE)实验和微核实验(MNT)观察DNA和染色体损伤情况,用流式细胞术(FCM)分析凋亡率的变化以及活性氧探针(2,7-二氯荧光素)探测细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平的变化。结果 LSPC组与正常对照组比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。纯乙醇组与正常对照组比较,差异有显著性意义,与乙醇组相比,5mg·L-1和10mg·L-1LSPC能显著降低olive尾矩(OTM)、微核率(MNF)、凋亡率和ROS的水平(均P<0.05),但高剂量组(25mg·L-1)对乙醇引起的肝细胞损伤保护作用不明显。结论适量浓度的莲房原花青素对乙醇诱导的肝细胞L-02的氧化损伤有保护作用。其机制可能与LSPC的抗氧化活性有关。     

Assessment of the Geometric Interaction Between the Lotus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Prosthesis and the Native Ventricular Aortic Interface by 320-Multidetector Computed Tomography

ObjectivesThis study sought to assess the geometric interaction between the Lotus Valve System transcatheter aortic prosthesis (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts) and the native aortoventricular interface using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).BackgroundThe interaction between transcatheter aortic valve prostheses and native anatomy is variable, although potentially predictable. The Lotus transcatheter device uses a novel mechanical means of expansion, the effect of which on native anatomic geometry has not previously been described.MethodsForty patients treated with the Lotus prosthesis were enrolled. The patients underwent 320-MDCT imaging before and after implantation. Prosthesis dimensions and relevant interaction parameters, including circularity and expansion, were assessed. The degree of paraprosthetic regurgitation (PAR) and prosthesis gradient were measured by transthoracic echocardiography at the same time points.ResultsThe mean baseline annular eccentricity index (EI) was 0.21 ± 0.06 and left ventricular outflow tract EI was 0.31 ± 0.09. The deployed prostheses had high rates of circularity with a mean EI across all device segments of 0.06 ± 0.04. In noncircular device deployment, an EI >0.1 was identified in 25% of prostheses and was associated with greater native annular eccentricity at baseline compared with circular devices (0.24 ± 0.04 vs. 0.19 ± 0.06; p = 0.01). The median percent of expansion was 97.5 ± 3.8% in the inflow portion of the prosthesis. Twenty-five percent of prostheses were <90% expanded in at least 1 segment with a numerical, but not statistically significant, association between oversizing and underexpansion. No correlation was found between device underexpansion and the mean transprosthesis gradient or between noncircularity and PAR.ConclusionsThe Lotus prosthesis results in nearly full device expansion and circularization of the native basal plane. Awareness of the anatomic interaction between this unique device and the native architecture may help in the formulation of appropriate device-specific sizing algorithms.     

The next era of transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A case illustrating the benefit of a fully re‐positionable,re‐sheathable,and retrievable prosthesis

While transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an accepted treatment modality in appropriately selected patients there remain modest complication rates. New TAVR devices, through novel design features, may overcome some of these complications. We present the first case of full re‐sheathing and retrieval of a Lotus Valve to facilitate a change in prosthesis size. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Wound Healing Plants in Mali,the Bamako Region. An Ethnobotanical Survey and Complement Fixation of Water Extracts from Selected Plants

Identification of 123 species, belonging to 50 families, used for wound healing in the Bamako region of Mali, was performed in this study. The fifteen species that were most frequently cited by the traditional healers were subjected to chemical and biological studies. Water extracts were subjected to screening for effects on the human complement system in vitro. The monosaccharide composition and the total carbohydrate content of the extracts were also determined. All extracts showed effects on the complement system, but extracts from Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch., Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir, Podaxon aegyptiacus Mont., Stereospermum kunthianum Cham., and Ximenia americana L. had the highest activity. The content of carbohydrate in the extracts varied between 5% and 80% and most of them contained substantial amounts of the monosaccharides arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose and galacturonic acid.     

论荷叶的减肥降脂作用

随着人民生活水平的不断提高,饮食习惯的改变,肥胖的人群不断增多,人们对减肥和降脂的需求也越来越大。荷叶是常见的清热中药,其主要活性成分是生物碱和黄酮类,荷叶的现代研究有减肥、降血脂的功效,所以近些年来荷叶不断受到肥胖人群的推崇。荷叶的临床应用较多的是以复方的形式用于减肥降脂,已有的复方有:降脂中药煎剂、荷叶合剂、荷叶水煎剂、降脂一号胶囊等,主要用于防治冠心病、动脉粥样硬化及高脂血症。近些年以来,以荷叶为主要成分的减肥降脂制品应用越来越广泛,已有各种以荷叶为主要成分的减肥降脂制剂上市,主要有:荷丹片、血脂宁、脂脉康胶囊、通脉降脂片等。主要用于减肥及冠心病、高血压病、高脂血症、糖尿病、脑血管疾病的预防。临床应用证明,肥胖的人群经常食用荷叶,减肥效果明显。本文就以荷叶的减肥降脂作用的现代研究情况作简要综述。     

荷叶炒炭过程中金丝桃苷、异槲皮苷与槲皮素含量变化规律研究

目的：本研究主要探究不同炒炭程度对荷叶炭中金丝桃苷、异槲皮苷与槲皮含量变化的影响,并建立HPLC同时测定这3种物质的方法,通过模拟炮制来研究这3种物质转变的关系。方法：本实验采用Hypersil gold C18（4.6mm×250mm,5μ）色谱柱;以乙腈（A）－0.1%磷酸（B）为流动相,梯度洗脱;流速：1.0mL·min^-1;检测波长：360nm;柱温：35℃。结果：荷叶炒炭后,金丝桃苷与异槲皮苷含量随炮制时间呈现逐渐下降趋势;槲皮素含量随着炮制时间呈现先上升、后下降趋势,并在280±5℃温度下炒制10min左右达到峰值;另外,在金丝桃苷和异槲皮苷模拟炮制样品中均检出槲皮素。结论：该实验说明不同炒炭程度对荷叶炭中金丝桃苷、异槲皮苷与槲皮素含量有显著影响,在加热炮制过程中金丝桃苷和异槲皮苷受热分解产生槲皮素。