Association between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of the Pelvic Floor and de novo Stress Urinary Incontinence after Vaginal Delivery

Na Li,Can Cui,Yue Cheng,Yanhong Wu,Jianzhong Yin,Wen Shen 대한영상의학회 2018 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.19 No.4

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the contributions of levator ani muscle (LAM) injury, vesical neck movement, urethral length and mobility, and urethral sphincter dysfunction observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) towards stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after vaginal delivery. Materials and Methods: Fifty primiparous women after 6 months of delivery (15 with SUI and 35 without) and 35 nulliparous as continent controls underwent MRI at rest and Valsalva maneuver. A published levator ani scoring system was used to characterize morphological changes of LAM. The severity of the injury was divided into three categories as none, minor, and major. A series of common parameters including levator plate angle, iliococcygeal angle, and levator hiatus were used to describe the functional conditions of LAM. Urethral mobility was defined based on the rotation of the urethra between Valsalva and rest status. Vesical neck movement was evaluated by its distance to the pubococcygeal line. Urethral sphincter dysfunction was defined as the widening of the proximal urethra and/or funneling at the urethrovesical junction during Valsalva. Results: Primiparous incontinent (PI) women had additional major levator ani defects (33.3% vs. 17.1%) while less minor defects (0.7% vs. 31.4%) than primiparous continent (PC) women. Vesical neck downward movement in PI women was more obvious than PC women (28.5 mm vs. 24.2 mm, p = 0.006). Urethral mobility was more active in primiparous women than in nulliparous continent controls (57.4 vs. 52.4), whereas no difference was observed on urethral mobility in the primiparous group (p = 0.25). Urethral sphincter dysfunction and funneling were present in 80% of PI women versus 22.9% in PC women (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The MRI findings revealed that de novo SUI was associated with major LAM injury, vesical neck downward movement as well as urethral sphincter dysfunction. Vesical neck funneling on sagittal images can be treated as a valuable predictor for SUI. The intervention for the PI should focus on the elevation of vesical neck, rehabilitation of LAM as well as recovery of the urethral sphincter muscle.

Identification of AMPK activator from twelve pure compounds isolated from Aralia Taibaiensis: implication in antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities

Yuwen Li,박종선,Yin Wu,Jia Cui,Na Jia,Miaomiao Xi,Aidong Wen 대한약리학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.21 No.3

The root bark extract of Aralia taibaiensis is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. The total saponin extracted from Aralia Taibaiensis (sAT) has effective combined antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. However, the active compounds have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, we examined effects of twelve triterpenoid saponins on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, and found that compound 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AT12) significantly increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AT12 effectively decreased blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism by which AT12 activated AMPK was subsequently investigated. Intracellular ATP level and oxygen consumption were significantly reduced by AT12 treatment. The findings suggested AT12 was a novel AMPK activator, and could be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Identification of AMPK activator from twelve pure compounds isolated from Aralia Taibaiensis: implication in antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities

Li, Yuwen,Park, Jongsun,Wu, Yin,Cui, Jia,Jia, Na,Xi, Miaomiao,Wen, Aidong The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.21 No.3

The root bark extract of Aralia taibaiensis is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. The total saponin extracted from Aralia Taibaiensis (sAT) has effective combined antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. However, the active compounds have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, we examined effects of twelve triterpenoid saponins on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, and found that compound 28-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AT12) significantly increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AT12 effectively decreased blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism by which AT12 activated AMPK was subsequently investigated. Intracellular ATP level and oxygen consumption were significantly reduced by AT12 treatment. The findings suggested AT12 was a novel AMPK activator, and could be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Facile Fabrication of Electrospun Silica Nanofibrous Membrane with Hydrophobic, Oleophilic and Breathable Performances

Meng-Jie Chang,Xiao-Jiao Chai,Wen-Na Cui,Jun Liu 한국섬유공학회 2018 Fibers and polymers Vol.19 No.4

We report a simple and versatile method to prepare hydrophobic composite SiO2 membrane. The electrospun SiO2 membrane was selected due to its good flexibility and thermal stability. The hydrophobic SiO2 membrane was succussfully prepared by simply evaporating a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer on the fiber surface. The characterization results show that the PDMS layer is too thin to be observed. The PDMS coating has no influence on the porous structure of the fibrous membrane, but imparts the good hydrophobicity and oleophilicity to the SiO2 nanofibers. As demonstration, the hydrophobic SiO2-PDMS membrane displays good oil absorption performance from the oil/water mixture, as well as filtration membrane for oil/water separation. Additionally, due to the proper pore size and hydrophobic surface, the SiO2- PDMS membrane shows good waterproof performance and breathability at the same time.

Regulatory Mechanisms of Annexin-Induced Chemotherapy Resistance in Cisplatin Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma

Wang, Chao,Xiao, Qian,Li, Yu-Wen,Zhao, Chao,Jia, Na,Li, Rui-Li,Cao, Shan-Shan,Cui, Jia,Wang, Lu,Wu, Yin,Wen, Ai-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Adenocarcinoma of lung has high incidence and a poor prognosis, woith chemotherapy as the main therapeutic tool, most commonly with cisplatin. However, chemotherapy resistance develops in the majority of patients during clinic treatment. Mechanisms of resistance are complex and still unclear. Although annexin play important roles in various tumor resistance mechanisms, their actions in cisplatin-resistant lung adenocarcinoma remain unclear. Preliminary studies by our group found that in cisplatin-resistant lung cancer A549 cells and lung adenocarcinoma tissues, both mRNA and protein expression of annexins A1, A2 and A3 is increased. Using a library of annexin A1, A2 and A3 targeting combined molecules already established by ourselves we found that specific targeting decreased cisplatin-resistance. Taken together, the underlined effects of annexins A1, A2 and A3 on drug resistance and suggest molecular mechanisms in cisplatin-resistant A549 cells both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the study points to improved research on occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma, with provision of effective targets and programmes for lung adenocarcinoma therapy in the clinic.

Identification of AMPK activator from twelve pure compounds isolated from <i>Aralia Taibaiensis</i>: implication in antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities

Yuwen Li,Jongsun Park,Yin Wu,Jia Cui,Na Jia,Miaomiao Xi,Aidong Wen 대한생리학회-대한약리학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.21 No.3

The root bark extract of <i>Aralia taibaiensis</i> is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. The total saponin extracted from <i>Aralia Taibaiensis</i> (sAT) has effective combined antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. However, the active compounds have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, we examined effects of twelve triterpenoid saponins on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, and found that compound 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AT12) significantly increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AT12 effectively decreased blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism by which AT12 activated AMPK was subsequently investigated. Intracellular ATP level and oxygen consumption were significantly reduced by AT12 treatment. The findings suggested AT12 was a novel AMPK activator, and could be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.