[Anti-fibrotic mechanism of Sedum sarmentosum total flavanones in inhibiting activation of HSC by regulating Smads].

This paper was aimed to observe the interventional effect of Sedum sarmentosum total flavanones on hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism through the subcutaneous injection of CCl_4 in rats. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, low-dose, medium-dose, high-dose S. sarmentosum total flavanones groups(100, 200, 400 mg·kg~(-1)) and silymarin group(200 mg·kg~(-1)). The model of liver fibrosis was established by subcutaneous injection of rats with 40% CCl_4. After the modeling, the drug groups were intragastrically administered with corresponding drugs once a day for consecutively five weeks, while the normal group and the model group were given 0.9% sodium chloride solution during the same period. After the experiment, the general conditions of rats and the pathological changes of liver tissues were observed, and the contents of serum ALT, AST, HA and LN were measured. Besides, the expressions of the protein and relevant mRNA of Smad2/3, Smad4 and α-SMA in rats were detected. Compared with model group, S. sarmentosum total flavanones could significantly increase the rats' body weight, inhibit the increase of liver and spleen index in rats of liver fibrosis, reduce the levels of ALT, AST, HA and LN, and alleviate pathological changes. Meanwhile, compared with the model group, the protein expressions of Smad2/3, Smad4 and α-SMA as well as relevant mRNA expressions in S. sarmentosum total flavanones group were obviously decreased, while Smad7 expression was markedly increased. As a result, S. sarmentosum total flavanones could significantly alleviate CCl_4-induced liver fibrosis, and its anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanism may be related to intervention with Smads pathway, so as to inhibit the activation of HSC.

[Attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study of dried shark fin products].

Sixty-four pieces of shark fin dried products (including real, fake and artificial shark fin products) and real products coated with gelatin were rapidly and nondestructively analyzed by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The characteristic of IR spectrograms among the above four kinds of samples were systematically studied and comparied, the results showed that the spectrograms of the same kind of samples were repeatable, and different kinds of shark fin products presented significant differences in the spectrograms, which mainly manifested as the specific absorption peaks of amido bonds in protein (1650, 1544 cm(-1)) and skeletal vibration in polysaccharide (1050 cm(-1)). The spectrograms of real shark fins were characterized by the strong absorption peaks of protein characteristic amide I and II absorbent (1650, 1544 cm(-1)) and relatively weak C--O--C vibration absorbent (1050 cm(-1)) owing to the high content of protein and relatively low level of polysaccharide. For fake shark fin products that were molded form by mixing together with the offcut of shark, collagen and other substances, the introduction of non-protein materials leaded to the weaker amido bonds absorbent than real products along with a 30 cm(-1) blue shift of amide I absorbent. Opposite to the real sample, the relatively strong absorption peak of polysaccharide (approximately 1047 cm(-1)) and barely existed amide absorbent were the key features of the spectrogram of artificial samples, which was synthersized by polysaccharide like sodium alginate. Real samples coated with gelatin, the peak strength of protein and polysaccharide were decreased simultaneously when the data collection was taken at the surface of sample, while the spectrogram presented no significant difference to real samples when the data was collected in the section. The results above indicated that by analyzing the characteristic of IR spectrograms and the value range of Apro/Apol collected by ATR-FTIR method could perform the undamaged and rapid identification for shark fins.

[Study on effect of total flavanones of Sedum sarmentosum on apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of total flavanones of Sedum sarmentosum (SSTF) on the apoptosis of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) and its mechanism. METHOD: Different concentrations of SSTF and HSC-T6 cells were co-cultured for different period of time. The MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of SSTF on the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells. The flow cytometry Annexin-V/PI double staining method was adopted to detect SSTF's effect on HSC-T6 cell apoptosis. Western blotting and Real-time PCR methods were applied to observe the effect on the protein and mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related cytokines Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3. RESULT: SSTF significantly inhibited HSC-T6 cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in a dose and time dependent manner. According to Western blotting result, SSTF promoted apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2, Bax and promoting the protein expression of Caspase-3; according to a further Real-time PCR study, Bcl-2 mRNA levels can inhibit Bcl-2 and promote Bax and Caspase-3 expressions. CONCLUSION: SSTF has the effect of promoting the apoptosis of HSC-T6 mainly by inhibiting Bcl-2 and promoting protein and mRNA expressions of Bax and caspase-3.

A series of new hybrid chalcogenogermanates: the rare examples of chalcogenogermanates combined with trivalent vanadium complexes.

A series of new hybrid chalcogenogermanates [Mn2(en)4Ge2S6]n (1, en = ethylenediamine), [Mn2(dap)4Ge2S6]n (2, dap = 1,2-diaminopropane), [H2dien]n[MnGeS4]n (3, dien = diethylenetriamine), [V(en)2(ea)]2[Ge2Se6] (4, Hea = ethanolamine), [V(teta)(ea)]2[Ge2Se6] (5, teta = triethylenetetramine) and [V2(en)6(µ-O)][Ge2Se6] (6) were solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Both 1 and 2 contain dimeric [Ge2S6]4- anions and [Mn(en)2]2+/[Mn(dap)2]2+ complex cations, which are interconnected to generate 1-D neutral chain-like structures [Mn2(en)4Ge2S6]n and [Mn2(dap)4Ge2S6]n, respectively. 3 consists of a protonated H2dien2+ cation and a 1-D straight chain built from [MnS4] and [GeS4] tetrahedra sharing opposite edges, and is the only example of a chelating amine uncoordinated to a transition metal ion. Both 4 and 5 consist of [Ge2Se6]4- anions constructed by two [GeSe4] tetrahedra sharing a common edge and discrete complex cations [V(en)2(ea)]2+/[V(teta)(ea)]2+. 6 is composed of a [Ge2Se6]4- anion and dinuclear complex cation [V2(en)6(µ-O)]4+ containing an en molecule as a rare monodentate ligand. Although some selenidogermanates with transition metal complexes have been successfully prepared, no selenidogermanates with trivalent vanadium complexes have been documented. Therefore, 4-6 offer the first examples of selenidogermanates with trivalent vanadium complexes under solvothermal conditions. Their optical and photocurrent response properties were studied.

A series of new vanadium(iii) chalcogenido-antimonates: an unusual seven-coordinate nitro-selenidovanadium(iii) complex.

A series of new vanadium(iii) chalcogenidoantimonates [VIII(dap)2SbQ3] (Q = S (1), Se (2); dap = 1,2-diaminopropane), [H2dien][VIII2(en)2(dien)2(µ2-O)][SbSe4]2 (3, en = ethylenediamine; dien = diethylenetriamine) and [VIII(dien)2SbSe4] (4) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Both 1 and 2 contain neutral vanadium(iii)-centered complexes [VIII(dap)2SbQ3], where the [SbQ3]3- anion acts as a chelating ligand to complex [VIII(dap)2]3+, but they exhibit different molecular conformations. 3 consists of selenidoantimonate anions [SbSe4]3-, the protonated H2dien2+ cation, and the dinuclear complex [VIII2(en)2(dien)2(µ2-O)]4+ based on two [VIII(en)(dien)]3+ units bridged by one µ2-O group. 4 contains neutral [VIII(dien)2SbSe4] moieties with seven coordinated vanadium centres, which offers a rare example of high coordination of a nitro-selenidovanadium(iii) complex, mainly because the vanadium(iii) ion has a regular octahedral configuration based on the structures in the solid state. The optical, magnetic and photoelectronic properties of all compounds have been investigated, and the density functional theory calculation of 4 has also been studied.

The evaluation of coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula in adulthood on 256-slice CT coronary angiography: Comparison with coronary catheter angiography and transthoracic echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: To review the imaging features of coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula (CPAF) on CT coronary angiography (CTCA) and evaluate its diagnostic performance compared with coronary catheter angiography (CCA) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed with a diagnosis of CPAF from among 19855 consecutive CCTA performed with 256-slice MDCT scanner for suspected coronary artery disease. CT images were evaluated for - origin, number, size and course (tubular/worm-like dilation/significant aneurysm formation/wall attachment sign) of fistula vessels, drainage site, drainage site imaging features (pierced sign, isodensity sign, smoke sign, jet sign), and main pulmonary artery (MPA) enlargement. 25 patients of CPAF also underwent CCA and 47 patients underwent TTE. RESULTS: There were 72 patients with CPAF (0.36%) in our study, of which 44 were men and 28 were women, with mean age of 55.8 ±â€¯13.2 years (range 22-85 years). CPAF originated from conus artery, left anterior descending artery (LAD), combined conus artery and LAD in 55, 67, 50 cases, respectively. Tubular dilation, worm-like dilation and aneurysm was seen in 14, 58 and 35 cases, respectively. Wall attachment sign was noted in 69 cases. All the cases demonstrated only a single drainage site, with left lateral wall, left anterolateral, anterior, right lateral and right anterolateral walls of MPA in 44, 21, 5, 1 and 1 cases, respectively. The mean diameter of the fistula drainage site was 2.6 ±â€¯1.3 mm. Pierced sign, jet sign, smoke sign, isodensity sign was seen in 72, 46, 41 and 24 cases, respectively. MPA enlargement was seen in 20 patients. CCA showed CPAF in only 20 cases among 25 patients; while TTE showed CPAF in only 9 patients among 47 patients. CONCLUSION: CTCA is competent in detecting and characterizing CPAF with an excellent diagnostic performance as the first imaging modality of choice, which is valuable for giving a distinct and intuitive explanation to patients and physicians and making an objective and exact assessment for further management.

A series of new hybrid selenidostannates with metal complexes prepared in alkylol amines.

A series of new hybrid selenidostannates [Mn(en)2(hda)]2[Sn2Se6](1, en = ethylenediamine, hda = N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine), [Ni(teta)(en)][Ni(teta)(hda)][Sn4Se10] (2, teta = triethylenetetramine), [Mn(hda)2]n[SnMnSe4]n (3), [Mn(dien)2]n[SnMnSe4]n (4, dien = diethylenetriamine), and [Zn2(en)2(µ4-SnSe4)]n (5) were solvothermally synthesized in hda solvent and structurally characterized. 1 is composed of a discrete [Sn2Se6]4- anion and a complex [Mn(en)2(hda)]2+ cation as the counterion. 2 contains the [Ni(teta)(en)]2+ ion, [Ni(teta)(hda)]2+ ion and [Sn4S10]4- adamantane-like ion built from the corner-sharing connection of four [SnSe4]4- tetrahedra, which offers the rare example of hybrid selenidostannate combined with two different types of transition metal complexes as counterions. Both 3 and 4 contain a 1-D heterometallic [SnMnSe42-]n anionic chain constructed from [Sn/MnSe4] tetrahedra sharing opposite edges, whose Sn4+ and Mn2+ ions are situated at the same site in the lattice, but their chains exhibit two different configurations. 5 exhibits a new type of 2-D organic-decorated [Zn2(en)2(µ4-SnSe4)]n layer incorporating rare tetrahedral [ZnSe2(en)] complexes. Their optical and photocurrent response properties were studied, and density functional theory calculations for 5 were also performed.

Improvement of quality of life with Shenfu injection in non small cell lung cancer patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) in treating non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients on quality of life with gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (GP) regimen. METHODS: Thirty-four patients were ready to receive GP regimen chemotherapy for treating NSCLC disease, according to lot-drawing, they were divided into SFI pre-treatment group (18 cases) and SFI post-treatment group (16 cases). SFI pre-treatment group: During the first treatment course, chemotherapy was begun with SFI 60 ml, intravenous dripping on the 3rd day, once daily, consecutively for 10 days; on the 1st day, GP regimen (GEM 1250 mg/m(2), intravenous dripping, on the 1st and 8th day; cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on the 2nd day; 21 days as one cycle) was carried out; in the second treatment course GP regimen was merely given to serve as the self-control. SFI post-treatment group: the medicament sequence order was reversed from that of pre-treatment group. Using dual international quality of life (QOL) scores, the effect of SFI on the patients' QOL was observed through randomized self pre- and post-crossover control. RESULTS: The QOL in the 34 patients after being treated by SFI in combination with GP chemotherapy regimen in one group, and GP chemotherapy regimen alone in the other, was improved in different degrees, with significant difference (P < 0.01); comparison of SFI combined with GP chemotherapy regimen with GP chemotherapy alone showed that QOL in patients was significantly different (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SFI could improve QOL in patients with NSCLC who were treated with GP regimen.

[Clinical study on comprehensive treatment of primary liver cancer mainly with chinese medicinal perfusion/embolization].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of comprehensive therapy mainly with Chinese anti-cancer medicinal perfusion/embolization and assisted with Chinese drug-therapy based on TCM Syndrome Differentiation in treating primary liver cancer. METHODS: Forty-one patients with liver cancer were divided into the treated group and the control group. To the treated group turmeric oil microballoon, cinobufotalin, Aidi injection and iodized oil were given via hepatic artery perfusion/embolization, and to the control group chemotherapeutic agents and iodized oil were given for instead. Besides, both groups were given Chinese herbs according to TCM Syndrome Differentiation additionally. RESULTS: The tumor inhibitory rate in the treated group and the control group was 77.78% and 69.57% respectively, with insignificant difference between them. The improvement of fatigue and anorexia in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P < 0. 05). The 6-month, 12-month and 24-month survival rate in the treated group and control group was 61.11% vs 56.62%, 27.78% vs 30.43% and 22.22% vs 26.09%, respectively, the difference between the two groups was insignificant. The occurrence of adverse reactions such as decreasing of white blood cells, platelet and hemoglobin, nausea and vomiting were obviously lower in the treated group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese anti-cancer medicinal perfusion/embolization has affirmative short-term clinical effect in treating primary liver cancer with few adverse reactions, which was tolerable to patients, but its long-term clinical efficacy needs further observation.

To evaluate the damage of renal function in CIAKI rats at 3T: using ASL and BOLD MRI.

PURPOSE: To investigate noninvasive arterial spin-labeling (ASL) and blood oxygen level-dependent imaging (BOLD) sequences for measuring renal hemodynamics and oxygenation in contrast induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen SD rats were randomly grouped into CIAKI group and control group. Both ASL and BOLD sequences were performed at 24 h preinjection and at intervals of 0.5, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h postinjection to assess renal blood flow (RBF) and relative spin-spin relaxation rate (R2(*)), respectively. RESULTS: For the CIAKI group, the value of RBF in the cortex (CO) and outer medulla (OM) of the kidney was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 12-48 h and regressed to baseline level (P = NS) at 72-96 h. In OM, the value of R2(*) was increased at 0.5-48 h (P < 0.05) and not statistically significant (P = NS) at 72 and 96 h. CONCLUSIONS: RBF in OM and CO and oxygen level in OM were decreased postinjection of CM. ASL combining BOLD can further identify the primary cause of the decrease of renal oxygenation in CIAKI. This approach provides means for noninvasive monitoring renal function during the first 4 days of CIAKI in clinical routine work.

[Coordination bonding driving supramolecular self-assembly of tetraphenylporphyrinatozinc (II) with imidazolyl tailed porphyrinatoiron (III) studied by fluorescence spectra and 1H NMR].

Coordination bonding driving supramolecular self-assembly of Zn(TPP) with Fe(p-ImEPTPP)Cl was investigated by fluorescence spectra and 1H NMR. The results indicate that an obvious fluorescence quenching observed from Zn(TPP) by addition of Fe (p-ImEPTPP)Cl is due to the coordination of the terminal imidazolyl group of Fe(p-ImEQTPP)Cl to Zn2+ of Zn(TPP). The change of fluorescence spectra of Zn(TPP)/Fe(p-ImEPTPP)Cl system by adding some Lewis bases, such as piperidine, imidazole and pyridine, as well as 1H NMR further supported this coordination.

The molecular mechanism of rhein in diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterized by unclear pathogenesis. Recent medical data shows that the incidence of DN rises year by year. Rhein is the main compositions of rhubarb, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, which plays an active role in kidney protection. The prophylaxis and phytotherapeutic effects of rhein are due to its anti-inflammatory and antifibrosis properties. Here, we shed light on the renal protective role of rhein in diabetes mellitus (DM) with a particular focus on the molecular basis of this effect.