ObjectiveTo study the value of plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the fetal fibronectin (fFN) in vaginal secretions and cervical length in predicting preterm labor.MethodsThe plasma CRH levels and fFN levels in vaginal secretions from 24 -37 weeks pregnant woman checked up in our hospital from Dec.2009 to Dec.2010 were detected by ELLISA method.The changes of these three indexes were observed with the pregnant time and were analyzed according to different pregnancy outcomes.Results Among the 112 cases of pregnant women,premature delivery in 54 cases,full-term birth 58 cases.At the 24 week of pregnancy,there were significant difference on the cervical length( [2.8 ±0.4]cm vs [3.3 ±0.5]cm,t =3.254,P =0.021 ) between premature delivery group and full-term birth group.At the 28 - 30 week,31 -32 week,33 - 34 week,35 - 36 week,the CRH were ( 162.33 ± 16.49 ) ng/L,(60.01:±: 14.56) ng/L;(352.12 ±61.01 )ng/L,( 118.04 ±53.74)ng/L; (364.55 ±56.71 )ng/L,( 122.95 ±71.41 )ng/L; (372.78 ±149.89)ng/L,(124.00 ± 19.05 )ng/L respectively in premature delivery group and full-term birth group,and there were significant differences on CRH at the four different pregnant time(t =3.687,6.875,8.652,8.524,respectively,P ＜ 0.05 ).It shows better sensitivity ( 97.92％ ),specificity ( 90.00％ ),positive predictive value(95.92％ ) and negative predictive value(94.73％ ) in predicting premature delivery by detection of CRH,fFN combined with cervical length.ConclusionDetection of plasma CRH,fFN combined with cervix length measurement can improve the predictability of premature and provide a good,reliable clinical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment for preterm premature.

Objective To evaluate the effect of red light irradiation on serum phosphorus reduction in hemodialysis.Methods Sixty maintenance hemodialysis patients were divided into treatment group and control group.During the hemodialysis,the blood in the extracorporeal circulation tube of the patents in the treatment group was irradiated with red light by a MRX-1 red light therapy system.The irradiation was continued for 60 minutes each time,and one course of the treatment contained 10 times of irradiations.Patients in the control group were subjected to hemodialysis by conventional methods.The serum phosphate levels of all patients were measured before and after the treatment.Results The symptoms of dialysis disequilibrium of the patients in the treatment group were alleviated.There was no significant difference in serum phosphate levels between the treatment group and the control group before hemodialysis,while a statistically significant difference was found after the treatment (P＜0.05).Conclusions Hemodialysis combined with red light irradiation on external blood trails can contribute to the decrease of serum phosphate levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

AIMTo investigate the intraspecific variation of Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower) and establish foundation for further breeding of safflower germplasm resource and screening the quality correlation genes.

METHODSAmplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was carried out to analyze genetic variation of 28 safflower populations collected in China. Unweighed pair-group method of with arithmetical averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was used to construct a dendrogram and to estimate the genetic distances among the populations.

RESULTSAll populations could be uniquely distinguished using 12 selected primer combinations. Similarity coefficients ranged from 0.48 to 0.96 among the populations. Dendrogram revealed distinct segregation of all the cultivars into three main groups and one midst group.

CONCLUSIONLimited genetic diversity exists within the tested 28 collections at intra specific level and AFLP-based phyiogeny was not absolutely consistent with that based on morphological characters may be due to the interaction effect between genotype and environment.

Carthamus tinctorius ; genetics ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Plant ; analysis ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Aim To investigate the effect of liver X receptor (LXR) activation on the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells in global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) mice,and its mechanisms.Methods A total of 75 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups,namely the sham operation group,the cerebral I/R group and the cerebral I/R with TO901317 treatment (I/R + TO90) group.The I/R mouse model was induced via the bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region.Immunohistochemistry was executed to detect hippocampus DCX + cells.Immunofluorescence of BrdU was implemented to detect the proliferation neural stem cell.Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory in mice.Western blot was used to detect the expression of hippocampus LXRα,LXRβ,ABCA1,p-ERK1/2,t-ERK1/2,p-CREB,t-CREB,BDNF.Results LXR activation improved cognitive recovery(P ＜0.01),and induced the proliferation of neural stem cells (P ＜ 0.01) in I/R mice.The expressions of hippocampal ABCA1,p-ERK1/2,p-CREB,BDNF in I/R + TO90 group mice also increased (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions LXR activation can induce the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells and facilitate cognitive recovery following global cerebral I/R in mice,which may be related to the activation of hippocampal ERK1/2-CREB-BDNF pathway and then promoting endogenous neurogenesis in the hippocampus DG region of I/R mice.

0.05).Conclusion Coverage of medical insurance and effective antiviral therapy for the patients with CHB could affect their QOL.

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Qing Yi Tang on acute pancreatitis(AP),especially AP complicated with endotoxemia and its possible mechanism.METHODS Fourty Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups including group A(the control group),group B(the AP group),group C(the AP group treated with Qing Yi Tang),group D(the AP group treated with LPS) and group E(the AP group treated with LPS + Qing Yi Tang).Pathological damage of pancreatic tissue was scored with HE staining.The mRNA expression of TNF-? was measured with semi-quantitative RT-PCR,and activation of NF-?B was detected with flow cytometry(FCM) assay.RESULTS It was shown in results that the expression of TNF-? mRNA,activation of NF-?B and pathological damage of the group B were all obviously higher than those of the group A.After treated with LPS which might promote the activation of NF-?B,there was seen the further rise of the activation of NF-?B,expression of TNF-? mRNA and pathological damage.When Qing Yi Tang intervention was applied,the activation of NF-?B and the expression of TNF-? mRNA could be remarkably relieved,so did the pathological damage of pancreas.CONCLUSIONS Qing Yi Tang may be applied to decrease activation of NF-?B and the expression of TNF-? so as to treat AP or AP with endotoxemia.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of free angle M-mode echocardiography (FAM) in obtaining tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) for assessing the fetal right ventricular function,and to compare the results of measurements of TAPSE by conventional M-mode(CM) and FAM.Methods Two hundred and forty-three normal fetuses in second and late trimester were divided into 5 groups by gestational age(GA):20-24 weeks,24+1-28 weeks,28+1-32 weeks,32+1-36 weeks,36+1-40 weeks.The TAPSE were measured by CM and FAM echocardiography,meanwhile multiple parameters for evaluating right ventricular function were obtained by using myocardial tissue Doppler imaging (TDI),and the correlation between TAPSE and other parameters were analyzed by linear correlation.ANOVA was used to compare CM-TAPSE,FAM-TAPSE,Em,Sm and right ventricular fractional shortening(RVFS)with different GA.Regression equation estimate was used to compare the relationship of FAM-TAPSE with GA.Independent sample t test was used to compare CM TAPSE with FAM TAPSE.Results There were significant differences in CM-TAPSE,FAM-TAPSE,Em,and Sm among 5 groups (P =0.000),the measured value of FAM-TAPSE was higher than that of CM TAPSE (P =0.000).Both FAM-TPASE and CM-TAPSE showed significant positive correlations with GA,Em and Sm,but FAM TAPSE demonstrated better correlation than CM-TAPSE.Conclusions By adjusting sample line of FAM,measuring the maximum displacement of tricuspid annular plane is feasible,and FAM may evaluate fetal right ventricular function more accurately and effectively.

Objective To quantitatively study the distance between the left atrial posterior wall and the descending aorta(DLD)in the normal fetal four-chamber view using fetal echocardiography.Methods The distances between the left atrial posterior wall and the descending aorta in end-systole (DLDs) and in end-diastole(DLDd) were measured in a standard apical four-chamber view using fetal echocardiography in 300 normal fetuses.The gestation ages ranged from 20 to 40 weeks.Fetal non-cardiac biometric parameters included femoral length(FL),biparietal diameter(BPD) and gestation age (GA) based on menstrual age. The correlation between DLDs,DLDd and non-cardiac biometric parameters were analyzed.Results In normal fetuses,the DLDs was (0.32±0.08)cm with a range of 0.19 -0.48 cm,the DLDd was (0.43 ± 0.10)cm with a range of 0.25-0.62 cm.The DLDs and DLDd increased with the growth of GA,and were correlated with GA and BPD and FL significantly (r = 0.545,0.556,0.574,0.530,0.563 and 0.576, respectively,all P <0.001).The linear regression equations between DLDs,DLDd and GA,BPD,FL were:Y =0.009GA+0.041 ,Y =0.038BPD+0.028,Y =0.044 FL+0.073,Y =0.01 1 GA+0.083,Y =0.048 BPD+0.063,Y = 0.054 FL + 0.124,respectively.Conclusions In normal fetuses,the DLDs and DLDd increase with the growth of GA,and have good correlation with GA,BPD,and FL respectively.Normal reference ranges of DLDs and DLDd have been provided.These normative data may be a new tool for assessment of fetal heart,especially has potential applications in screening of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(TPVAC),absent pulmonary valve syndrome(APVS)or other complex congenital heart defects.

Objective To develop Z-score reference ranges for mitral valve-tricuspid valve distance (MTD) in normal fetuses from the measurements of femur length (FL),biparietal diameter (BPD) or gestational age (GA) using fetal echocardiography.Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study of 1216singleton normal fetuses was performed.The gestation age ranged from 20 to 40 weeks.Non-cardiac fetal biometric parameters included FL and BPD and GA based on menstrual age.MTD was measured in a standard apical four-chamber view.Normal Z-score ranges were developed for MTD using GA,BPD and FL as independent variables.These were accomplished by using first standard regression analysis and then weighted regression of absolute residual values for each parameter in order to adjust for inconstant variance.Results Linear regression model was the best description of the data in each case and correlations between MTD and independent variables (FL,BPD,GA) were excellent.The linear regression equations between MTD and FL,BPD,GA were:Y =0.04629 × FL-0.02868 (r =0.827) ; Y =0.04018 × BPD-0.08293(r =0.767) ; Y =0.0098 × GA-0.07075 (r =0.721),respectively.Heteroscedasticity of standard deviation(SD) with increasing independent variables also could be modeled with a simple linear regression.Linear regression equations between SD of MTD and FL,BPD,GA were:Y =0.0149 × FL-0.0095 (r =0.9947),Y =0.0126 × BPD-0.02793 (r =0.9931),Y =0.00305 × GA-0.021 (r =0.991),respectively.According to these equations,MTD Z-score =(the actual measurement of MTD-predicted MTD)/prediction SD.Conclusions Normal reference ranges and Z-scores for MTD have been provided.These normative data may be useful tools for assessment of fetal MTD,especially has potential applications in Ebstein anomaly or other malformations involved atrioventricular valves.

Objective To observe insulin resistance (IR) in non-diabetic peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients,and analyze its related factors.Methods The non-diabetic PD patients who had been on stable PD at least three months were eligible to enroll.The patients were measured for their height,weight,waist to hip ratio,fasting glucose,fasting insulin,lipids and other biochemical indicators,dialysis adequacy indicators in August 2012,and divided into two groups depended on median HOMA-IR in August 2012.Results A total of 56 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups according to median HOMA-IR,including high IR group (HOMA-IR≥ 1.79,n=29) and low IR group (HOMA-IR ＜ 1.79,n=27).Compared to low IR group,high IR group were older [(57.9±14.2) years vs (48.7±14.5) years],had higher daily dialysate glucose load [(138.7±28.5) mmol/L vs (114.0± 21.5) mmol/L],higher waist-to-hip ratio [(0.91±0.08) vs (0.86±0.07)],higher BMI [(23.0±3.0) kg/m2 vs (21.2±3.1) kg/m2],higher triglycerides [(2.51±1.36) mmol/L vs (1.42±0.48) mmol/L],lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [(1.00±0.27) mmol/L vs (1.23±0.32) mmol/L],and lower Kt/V [(1.74±0.37) vs (2.08±0.56)].Multivariate logistic regression showed that age (β=0.122,P=0.033),triglycerides (β=1.798,P=0.030) and daily dialysate glucose load (β=0.094,P=0.031) associated with the degree of insulin resistance.Conclusion More dialysate glucose exposure is a risk factor of the occurrence of insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with peritoneal dialysis.