Phenylacetic acids were detected in the plasma and urine of rats administered with low-dose mulberry leaf extract

The use of a high quercetin dose to demonstrate its absorption and bioavailability does not reflect the real dietary situation because quercetin glycosides are usually present in small amounts in the human diet. This study aimed to demonstrate the absorption and bioavailability of quercetin in mulberry leaves that represents a more physiologic dietary situation. Mulberry leaf ethanol extract was prepared similar to tea infusion, which is the way the tea leaves are generally prepared for consumption. Accordingly, rats were fed by oral intubation the mulberry leaf ethanol extract (15 g%/rat per day) or pure rutin (135 μg/rat per day) for 2 weeks. The control group received a similar volume of the vehicle, 10% ethanol. There was a significant increase in total antioxidant activity (TAA) in the urine and feces of the antioxidants-fed rats. Phenylacetic acid, a microbial metabolite of quercetin, was detected in the urine of the test animals, and quercetin was present in the fecal samples. By using an in situ intestinal preparation, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, another microbial metabolite of quercetin, was detected in the plasma when the duodenal segment was instilled with 2 mg of rutin. This microbial metabolite retained 50% of the TAA of quercetin. The results of this study indicate that in a more realistic dietary situation, an increase in TAA in the body after consumption of quercetin-containing foods is contributed mainly by the microbial metabolites.     

小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞体外诱导分化为神经元样细胞的实验研究

目的:探讨体外诱导小鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(mouse marrow mesenchymal stem cells,mMSCs)分化为神经元样细胞的条件.方法:密度梯度离心结合差异贴壁法分离、纯化mMSCs,胰蛋白酶消化传代扩增mMSCs.用最适浓度的β-疏基乙醇(BME) 神经生长因子(NGF)、NGF 全反式维甲酸(ATRA)、NGF BME ATRA作为诱导剂,观察诱导期间细胞的形态变化,并用免疫细胞化学法鉴定神经元烯醇化酶(NSE)、神经丝蛋白(NF)的表达,行甲苯胺蓝染色显示尼氏小体.结果:(1)免疫细胞化学显示NGF BME ATRA诱导组诱导效率最高,78%细胞表达NSE,80%细胞表达NF;(2)各诱导组尼氏染色均出现尼氏小体.结论:NGF、BME、ATRA能诱导mMSCs分化为神经元样细胞,其中以NGF(10μg/L) BME(2.5mM/L) ATRA(2.5M/L)组效率最高.     

张锡纯诊识弦脉探析

张锡纯所著《医学衷中参西录》详细记载了其医学理论及临床经验,在其医案及方剂中可以看到许多有关弦脉的记载.张锡纯认为弦脉与脾虚、寒气、痰饮、肝火、冲气、胃气上冲、血脉痹阻、风气等有关.此外,弦脉还可因复杂的病因病机而出现.     

心肌病患者线粒体DNA异常的探讨

心肌病的病因至今未明,它被认为是一种多原因、多因素的疾病。其中,线粒体DNA缺失也是原因之一。本文采用PCR法,对12例心肌病者的血细胞以及其中4例患者骨骼肌细胞的线粒体DNA,进行了在第11012—11980位片段内的检测,均未见有缺失,对此结果进行了初步讨论,为从分子水平进一步探讨心肌病的病因打下基础。     

阴式与腹式子宫切除术的临床应用比较

目的评价非脱垂子宫阴式和腹式全切术的临床效果。方法选择2005年1月～2008年12月在我院妇产科住院的非脱垂子宫患者。其中行阴式子宫全切术31例为实验组,以30例行常规腹式子宫全切术患者为对照组。对两组手术时间、术中出血量、术后病率、术后肛门排气时间、术后平均住院天数等方面进行前瞻性研究。结果阴式组的手术时间、术后病率、肛门排气时间、术后住院天数明显少于腹式组,差异有显著性意义（P〈0．01）。阴式组的术中出血量和腹式组相比差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。结论非脱垂子宫行阴式全切术优于行腹式全切术。     

多层螺旋CT血管成象评估透析患者血管通路

目的：应用多层螺旋CT血管成象(muhislice spiral computed tomographic angiography，MSCTA)三维重建技术检查维持性血液透析(MHD)患者血管通路狭窄情况，为手术修复和经皮经腔血管成形术(PTA)提供指导。方法：采用TOSHIBA16层螺旋CT，对19例临床拟为血管通路功能不良的MHD患者进行检查，采用对侧肢体外周静脉注射非离子型碘造影剂，注射速度3ml／s，造影剂总量50～100ml。注射后延时25～30s行多层螺旋CT扫描检查、采象，应用最大密度投影、容积成象和曲面重建技术对图象数据进行处理和三维重建。结果：MSCTA配合三维重建技术可获得空间分辨率很高的透析血管通路全景图，包括动脉流人道、吻合口和静脉流出道，血管走行情况和狭窄部位均获得清晰显示。检查发现内瘘吻合口狭窄4例；静脉流出道狭窄10例16个部位，其中4例形成明显静脉侧支循环；前臂内瘘局部扩张6例；锁骨下静脉狭窄3例；头静脉汇人锁骨下静脉处狭窄1例；上腔静脉狭窄1例。根据MSCTA的结果，对8例患者进行了动静脉内瘘手术修复，4例进行了数字减影血管造影(DSA)介导PTA，手术直视和DSA证实了MSCTA诊断的准确性，手术和PTA干预的短期效果令人满意。结论：MSCTA是一项评估透析血管通路的先进手段，具有无创伤、成象迅速、高清晰度等优点，能全面、准确地评估MHD患者内瘘情况，并为进一步治疗提供指导。     

Expression levels of microRNA-199 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in brain tissue of patients with intractable epilepsy

Objectives: During the last decade, experimental evidence has demonstrated an important role of hypoxia, which leads to neuronal cell death and angiogenesis, in the mechanisms of seizure precipitation and recurrence. MicroRNA-199 targets hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α), which has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of the hypoxic state and brain injury. However, little is known about the roles of MicroRNA-199 and HIF-1α in the human epileptogenic process.

Design and methods: In this study, we investigated the expression of miR-199a-5p, miR-199b-5p and HIF-1α using real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blots in the temporal neocortex of twenty four patients with intractable epilepsy and twelve control subjects.

Results: Compared with the control group, the expression of miR-199a-5p and miR-199b-5p was significantly lower in epileptic brain tissues (p < 0.05). The levels of HIF-1α mRNA and protein were highly up-regulated in epileptic brain tissues compared with those of control subjects (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These data suggest that the abnormal expression of miR-199 and HIF-1α in epileptic brain tissue may be involved in the pathophysiology of human epilepsy and that the expression of HIF-1α may be regulated by miR-199. These findings may provide new insights into the treatment of epilepsy.     

Paclitaxel delivery from PLGA foams for controlled release in post-surgical chemotherapy against glioblastoma multiforme

Paclitaxel loaded biodegradable poly-(dl-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) foams with microporous matrix were fabricated by a novel pressure quenching approach to provide a sustained paclitaxel release. The foams with micropores provided increased surface area to volume ratio and were also implantable for post-surgical chemotherapy applications. The two formulations 5% (w/w) paclitaxel loaded PLGA 85:15 foam (F1) and 10% (w/w) paclitaxel loaded PLGA 50:50 foam (F2), were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Both the foams were found to provide a paclitaxel release beyond a month in vitro with a near zero-order kinetics and with minimum burst release. Furthermore, apoptosis of C6 glioma cells in vitro demonstrated the benefits of sustained paclitaxel release by the foams in comparison to acute Taxol^® exposure. Both the foams exhibited continuous paclitaxel release in an in vivo (subcutaneous) environment up to a month which correlated well with the in vitro release profiles. Bio-distribution results in the rat brain showed paclitaxel penetration at therapeutic levels up to 3 mm into the tissue from the site of foam implantation. Hence these foams could be employed as potential implants for post-surgical chemotherapy against malignant glioma.