Protective Effects of Tirofiban on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits.

We aimed to explore the different protective effects of tirofiban on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in New Zealand white rabbits by comparing the results from different administration methods. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a sham group (group A, n = 10) and four IR groups (group B, IR group with injection of physiological saline; group C, tirofiban administered through marginal ear vein after reperfusion; group D, tirofiban injected through coronary ostia before reperfusion; group E, tirofiban injected through coronary artery after blood flow restoration; all n = 10). Myocardial IR injury models were prepared in IR groups. An automatic biochemical analyzer (HITACHI 7020, Japan) was applied for testing serum creatine kinase-MB levels. The myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, nitric oxide synthase activity, and nitric oxide (NO) volume were detected 180 minutes after reperfusion. The myocardial apoptosis was identified using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling technique, and the protein expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2, Bcl-2 associated X, and aquaporin-1 were measured through Western blot. The highest and lowest ST-segment resolution among the IR groups was observed in groups E and B, respectively. The creatine kinase-MB levels at 60, 120, and 180 minutes in group E was greatly decreased than in groups B, C, and D. Compared with the sham group, the IR groups demonstrated evidently elevated myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, inducible NOS activity, NO volume, myocardial apoptotic index, and aquaporin-1 expressions; among the IR groups, these indicators were increased and decreased most in groups B and E, respectively. The B-cell lymphoma-2/Bcl-2 associated X ratio in the IR groups were evidently higher than the sham group, with the highest and lowest rate in groups E and B, respectively. Tirofiban injection through coronary artery after blood flow restoration has a better protective effect against myocardial IR injury than tirofiban administration through coronary ostia before reperfusion and tirofiban injection through the auricular vein after reperfusion.

Research Progress of Chinese Herbal Medicine Intervention in Renal Interstitial Fibrosis.

Chronic kidney diseases usually cause renal interstitial fibrosis, the prevention, delay, and treatment of which is a global research hotspot. However, no definite treatment options are available in modern medicine. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history, rich varieties, and accurate treatment effects. Hitherto, many Chinese herbal medicine studies have emerged to improve renal interstitial fibrosis. This paper reviews the mechanisms of renal interstitial fibrosis and recent studies on the disease intervention with Chinese herbal medicine through literature search, intend to reveal the importance of Chinese herbal medicine in renal interstitial fibrosis. The results show that Chinese herbal medicine can improve renal interstitial fibrosis, and the effects of Chinese herbal medicine on specific pathological mechanisms underlying renal interstitial fibrosis have been explored. Additionally, the limitations and advantages of Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis, possible research directions, and new targets of Chinese herbal medicine are discussed to provide a basis for studies of renal interstitial fibrosis.

[Usefulness of serum inhibin B measurement for evaluation of ovarian reserve in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation].

OBJECTIVE: To assess usefulness of serum inhibin B (INHB) measurement for evaluation of ovarian function. METHODS: Serum INHB level on day 3 of menstrual cycle was determined by enzyme labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 96 cases of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). The patients were classified into 3 groups including (1) poor response (n = 6), normal response (n = 72), and over response (n = 18) according to their response to ovary stimulation. In addition, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels were also determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay in these patients. Evaluation of the INHB measurement and related factors was performed by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Serum INHB levels in poor, normal and over-response groups were (28 +/- 20), (85 +/- 42), (92 +/- 34) pg/ml; FSH levels were (11.9 +/- 5.3), (7.5 +/- 2.6), (7.2 +/- 1.7) U/L; E(2) levels on day 3 of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration were (2558 +/- 2108), (9366 +/- 4472), (18 392 +/- 9655) pmol/L; numbers of retrieved oocytes per cycle were (0.6 +/- 0.4), (8.7 +/- 3.6), (14.3 +/- 2.9); top grade embryos were (0.4 +/- 0.3), (3.8 +/- 1.9), (4.6 +/- 1.7); pregnancy rates were 16.7%, 36.1%, 61.1%, respectively. INHB level was negatively correlated to FSH (r = -0.222, P < 0.05) and FSH/LH (r = -0.371, P < 0.05); while positively correlated to E(2) on the day of hCG administration (r = 0.336, P < 0.05), number of retrieved oocytes (r = 0.404, P < 0.05), number of quality embryos (r = 0.323, P < 0.05) and pregnancy rate (r = 0.246, P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: INHB test may reflect the ovarian reserve which is of clinic importance in the guidance of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

[Application of traditional Chinese medicine in interventional treatment of carcinoma].

Interventional therapy is characterized by mini-invasion, accuracy, obvious curative effect and little side effect. In China, interventional therapy has been applied widely in the treatment of malignant carcinoma in recent 10 years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also has been adopted in the interventional therapy in recent years. This article reviews the history, status quo and prospect in interventional treatment of carcinoma with traditional Chinese medicine in experimental and clinical domains in recent years. Interventional therapy combined with TCM preparation directly or TCM therapy as a supplementary method of interventional therapy for carcinoma has played an active role in improving clinical curative effect, controlling and reducing toxic side effect and complications.