The anti-inflammatory secoiridoid glycosides from Gentianae Scabrae Radix: the root and rhizome of Gentiana scabra

Journal of Natural Medicines - Gentianae Scabrae Radix is a well-known traditional medicine that is used for the treatment of hepatitis, cholecystitis and inflammatory diseases. It consists mainly...     

The role of leukocyte depletion by in vivo use of leukocyte filter in lung preservation after warm ischemia

The oxygen metabolites of leukocytes have been implicated as playing the central role in reperfusion injury of preserved lung for transplantation. Furthermore, it is still unknown how leukotrienes take part in this process. Twelve mongrel dogs were used, divided into two groups. In group A, left thoracotomy and hilar stripping of the left lung was performed under anesthesia. During warm ischemia (two hours) and reperfusion (two hours), a filter was used three times between the femoral artery and vein, and quantitative in vivo blood filtration was performed. In group B, warm ischemia and reperfusion was done in the same fashion without filtration. As for tissue free radical assay, lipid peroxidation products were measured by means of thiobarbituric acid. Tissue leukotriene B4 and C4 levels were measured by radio immunoassay. In addition, peripheral blood count and tissue wet/dry ratio were analyzed. Significant leukocyte depletion of peripheral blood with leukocyte efflux from reperfused lung was observed in group A. Significant increase of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) titers after reperfusion was observed in group B, whereas no significant fluctuation of tissue MDA titers was noted in group A. Concerning leukotriene B4 and C4, no significant increase was observed in either group. Tissue damage estimated by lung wet/dry ratio was considered to be controlled in group A compared with group B. Thus, the authors conclude that in vivo use of a leukocyte filter is efficient in removal of peripheral blood leukocytes and in preservation of reperfused lung after warm ischemia and that oxygen metabolites of leukocytes are considered to play a role in tissue damage in this process.     

Demonstration of the reentrant circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia: direct evidence for macroreentry as the underlying mechanism

The exact reentrant circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) remains unclear. This case report demonstrates the reentrant circuit of ILVT. A 20-pole electrode catheter was placed along the left posterior fascicle during electrophysiologic study. ILVT was reproducibly induced by programmed ventricular stimulation. During the tachycardia, sequential diastolic potentials bridging the entire diastolic period were observed in the recordings from the electrodes positioned from left ventricular mid-septum to inferoapical septum. The slow conduction zone appeared to be composed of a false tendon in this patient. Entrainment of the ILVT from the right ventricular outflow tract at a different pacing cycle length revealed that a dominant conduction delay occurred at the proximal site of the slow conduction zone. Entrainment studies from several sites on the left ventricular septum confirmed that these sites where sequential electrical activity was recorded were included within the reentrant circuit. However, the left posterior fascicle itself seemed to be a bystander. This report provides the direct evidence of macroreentry as the underlying mechanism of this ILVT, adjacent to the left posterior fascicle.     

Myeloid/Natural Killer Cell Precursor Acute Leukemia Accompanied by Homozygous Protein C Deficiency

A patient with myeloid/natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia who was also homozygous for protein C deficiency was treated and showed a complete remission while he simultaneously received low molecular weight heparin. He presented with fever spikes, lymphadenopathy, and a bulky tumor of the anterior mediastinum. A bone marrow aspirate showed the infiltration of immature lymphoblastoid cells. The patient's diagnosis was determined to be myeloid/NK cell precursor acute leukemia by morphologic and immunophenotypic analysis (CD7(+)CD33(+)CD34(+)CD56(+)). The patient developed a thrombosis in his jugular vein on cannulation of the internal jugular vein. An examination of the serum levels and the activities of proteins C and S demonstrated a slight decrease in the protein C level but an undetectable protein C activity. The patient received the diagnosis of homozygous protein C deficiency, because both parents were found to have heterozygous protein C activity. Treatment of the patient's leukemia included induction chemotherapy (Ara-C and idarubicin) with concomitant administration of low molecular weight heparin for his homozygous protein C deficiency. He achieved a complete remission without expressing any thrombosis during the course of chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case ever described in which acute myeloid leukemia was complicated with homozygous protein C deficiency.     

A single nucleotide polymorphism in Prostate Stem Cell Antigen is associated with endoscopic grading in Kyoto classification of gastritis

The risk allele of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2294008 in the Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) gene is strongly associated with gastric cancer. Although the Kyoto classification score is believed to be an indicator of gastric cancer risk, it lacks supporting genetic evidence. We investigated the effect of this risk allele of PSCA SNP on the Kyoto score. Participants without a history of gastric cancer or Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, H. pylori evaluation, and SNP genotyping. The Kyoto score is the sum of scores obtained from endoscopy-based atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, enlarged folds, nodularity, and diffuse redness. The Kyoto score is novel in the light of scoring for gastritis. A total of 323 patients were enrolled (number of individuals with genotype CC: 52; CT: 140; TT: 131, average age: 50.1 years, male: 50.8%). The patient baseline characteristics including age, sex, body mass index, smoking, drinking, family history of gastric cancer, and H. pylori status had no association with PSCA SNP. The Kyoto score was higher in T (CT or TT genotype; risk allele) carriers than in CC carriers. Atrophy, enlarged folds, and diffuse redness scores were higher in T allele carriers (risk allele) than in CC genotype individuals. In multivariate analysis, the Kyoto score was independently associated with PSCA SNP (OR: 1.30, p = 0.012). Thus, the Kyoto score was associated with a genetic predisposition.     

Acoustic radiation force impulse under clinical conditions with single infusion of ultrasound contrast agent evoking arrhythmias in rabbit heart

Journal of Medical Ultrasonics - We previously reported that acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) with concomitant administration of perfluorobutane as an ultrasound contrast agent (UCA)-induced...     

Metabolomic profiling of Saposhnikoviae Radix from Mongolia by LC–IT–TOF–MS/MS and multivariate statistical analysis

Journal of Natural Medicines - Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) is a commonly used crude drug that is obtained from the root and rhizome of Saposhnikovia divaricata which is distributed throughout China,...