Objective:To study the relation between the distribution ofapolipoprotein E(apoE)genotypes and cognitive impairment onset in long lived elderly in Bama area in Guangxi in china.Methods:A total of 112 long lived elderly aged 90 years old and over were collected and tested with MMSE to inspect their cognitive function,and they were classified into cognition impaired group and non-impaired group according to MMSE scores.We determined the AopE genotypes by way of PCR-RFLP technique,and compared the differences of AopE allele and genotype of the two groups.Result:The cognitive disfunction was found to be 14.29% in long lived elderly in Bama area.The ApoE ? 3/? 3 genotypes have highest frequency in long-lived elderly,next is ?2/3,and ?4/4 is lowest frequency.There were significant differences of ? 4 allele frequencies between cognition impaired group and non-impaired group(P

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of adenovirus-mediated VEGF-siRNA on transplanted osteo- sarcoma in nude mice.Methods: VEGF-siRNA gene was cloned into the genome of replication-deficient adenovirus to construct Ad-VEGF-siRNA;the latter was then used to infect osteosarcoma MG63 cell line in vitro;and the expression of VEGF gene was detected by RT-PCR.Osteosarcoma transplantation model was established in nude mice;VEGF expression in tumor tissue was analyzed and the inhibitory effect on tumor growth and lung metastasis were also observed.Results: The recombinant adenovirus vector Ad-VEGF-siRNA was successfully constructed.In vivo and in vitro experiment both showed that Ad-VEGF-siRNA significantly downregulated VEGF expression in MG63 cells and transplanted tumor tissue. It was found that Ad-VEGF-siRNA significantly inhibited transplanted osteosarcoma growth(P

The trace chemical components in functional Monascus rice were studied to explore the potential bioactive substances. MCI column, Sephadex LH-20 gel, and preparative liquid chromatography were used to purified the ethyl acetate extract from functional Monascus rice. Two novel pyridine Monascus pigments were isolated and identified, named monascopyridine G (1) and monascopyridine H (2), respectively based on extensive mass spectrometry (MS), infrared radiation (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The molecular docking experiments between compounds 1 and 2 and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) showed that they exhibited obvious binding force with the receptor protein. Besides, the biosynthetic pathways of the two compounds were proposed, which provide a valuable reference for the selective production of these potential bioactive substances.

Three new compounds, including a naphthoquinone, a reduced naphthoquinone derivative naphthalenone, and a tricarboxylic acid, along with five known naphthalenone derivatives were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of rice fermentation products of the fungus Pleosporales sp. by multiple column chromatographic methods, including Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase HPLC, and chiral chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by MS, NMR, and specific rotation spectroscopic analyses as well as ECD calculations. Three novel compounds were named as pleospathone A (1), pleospathone B (2), and pleosporalic acid A (3). Five known compounds were separately identified as (3S,4R)-3,4,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one (4), (4R)-3,4-dihydro-4,6,8-trihydroxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone (5), (-)-scytalone (6), (3S,4S)-3,4-dihydro-3,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone (7), and cis-4-hydroxyscytalone (8). Compounds 4-8 were isolated from the Pleosporales fungi for the first time. Compound 1 shows inhibitory activities against human cervical carcinoma cell line HeLa and murine leukemia cell line P388 with the IC₅₀ values of 78.93 and 98.80 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines ; abnormalities ; pathology ; Male ; Necrosis

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of dietary boron supplement on retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis in rats, so as to provide experimental evidence for clinical management of osteoporosis with boron.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats were randomized into normal control group (8 rats) and osteoporotic group (24 rats), and osteoporosis was induced in rats of the latter group by intragastric retinoic acid administration at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg for 15 consecutive days. The osteoporotic rats were subdivided into control group (8 rats) without treatment, boron treatment group (8 rats) and estradiol treatment group (8 rats). After 30 days of treatment, the serum contents of Ca, P, boron and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in the rats were assayed, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, lumbar vertebrae and tibia were determined, and the morphological changes of the femurs were observed.

RESULTSThe serum contents of Ca and P in the rats of the 4 groups differed scarcely, but the content of boron in boron treatment group was markedly higher than that in the other three groups. In the osteoporotic control group, the activities of serum AKP and TRAP, the masses of spongy bone and cortical bone of the femurs, and the quantity of the osteoclasts were increased, with the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and tibia decreased, suggesting osteoporotic conditions. The mean trabecular plate density and thickness, trabecular bone volume and cortical bone volume of the femurs in the osteoporotic rats treated with boron or estradiol were significantly increased, but the active osteoclast quantity in the spongy bone and serum TRAP activities were obviously decreased, and the bone quality was comparable with that of the normal group. In addition, the serum AKP activity and the active osteoblast quantity in the spongy bone were obviously increased in boron treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe dietary boron supplement can increase the serum content of boron of osteoporotic rats to stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, producing therefore obvious therapeutical effect against osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Boron ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Time Factors ; Tretinoin

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to prospectively study the changes in neutrophil elastase (NE), fibroblast growth factor 9 (Fgf9), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in sputum induced during the early period after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS).

METHODSFrom April to October 2005, ten consecutive patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) underwent LVRS. Ten non-small cell lung cancer patients (stage II - IIIa) received lobectomy as a control group. The induced sputum was collected from both groups at six different times (two weeks before operation and postoperatively at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 days). The level of NE, Fgf9, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe pulmonary function (FEV(1)%) and arterial blood gases (PaO(2) and PaCO(2)) were significantly different between the groups. There were no significant differences in age, ejection fraction (EF), and operation duration, but hemoglobin in the LVRS group was statistically higher than in the controls. At certain times, there were significant differences in NE, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 (P < 0.05) but not in Fgf9 between the two groups. The levels of NE and TIMP-1 were maximal at 2 days postoperatively and that of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 at 4 days postoperatively in the LVRS group. In the control group, maximal levels of NE and TIMP-1 occurred at 2 days postoperatively and that of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 at 1 day postoperatively. Ten days after surgery, all values of the control group were not significantly different from the baseline. In the LVRS group, the levels were significantly different from the pre-operative values (P < 0.05) apart from TIMP-1.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of NE, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 of the LVRS group were different from those of the control group. The time course of these changes may be related to LVRS and the underlying process of COPD.

Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 ; analysis ; Humans ; Leukocyte Elastase ; analysis ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; surgery ; Sputum ; chemistry ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of solute carrier family 34 member 2 (SLC34A2) gene in a Chinese family with pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from the family members. DNA sequencing was carried out to confirm the mutation detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP). The fragments with variation were screened in 100 healthy controls by PCR-SSCP.

RESULTSIn both patients of the family, a homozygous mutation of the SLC34A2 gene was identified in exon 8 (c.A910T), resulting in a premature stop codon. In addition, a homozygous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found in intron 2 in both patients and the daughter of proband.

CONCLUSIONA novel homozygous mutation in SLC34A2 gene, leading to a premature stop codon therefore a truncated protein, was probably responsible for the PAM in this family. The SNP in intron 2 needs further study.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type IIb ; genetics

Atorvastatin is proven to ameliorate cardiac hypertrophy induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH).However,little is known about the mechanism by which atorvastatin modulates CIH-induced cardiac hypertrophy,and whether specific hypertrophyrelated microRNAs are involved in the modulation.MiR-31 plays key roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy induced by ischemia/hypoxia.This study examined whether miR-31 was involved in the protective role of atorvastatin against CIH-induced myocardial hypertrophy.H9c2 cells were subjected to 8-h intermittent hypoxia per day in the presence or absence of atorvastatin for 5 days.The size of cardiomyocytes,and the expression of caspase 3 and miR-31 were determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR,respectively.MiR-31 mimic or Ro 31-8220,a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε),was used to determine the role of miR-31 in the anti-hypertrophic effect of atorvastatin on cardiomyocytes.PKCε in the cardiomyocytes with miR-31 upregulation or downregulation was detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting.The results showed that CIH induced obvious enlargement of cardiomyocytes,which was paralleled with increased atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP),brain natriuretic peptide (BNP),and slow/beta cardiac myosin heavy-chain (MYH7) mRNA levels.All these changes were reversed by the treatment with atorvastatin.Meanwhile,miR-31 was increased by CIH in vitro.Of note,the atorvastatin pretreatment significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of PKCε and decreased that of miR-31.Moreover,overexpression of miR-31 abolished the anti-hypertrophic effect of atorvastatin on cardiomyocytes.Upregulation and downregulation of miR-31 respectively decreased and increased the mRNA and protein expression of PKCε.These results suggest that atorvastatin provides the cardioprotective effects against CIH probably via up-regulating PKCε and down-regulating miR-31.

ObjectiveTo investigate clinical features, correlative factors and prognosis of senile coronary heart disease accompanied with depression.MethodsFifty two senile patients of coronary hart disease with depression were selected for the observation group, sixty cases without depression as control group. Clinical features, family conditions, society factors and Holter report (supervision) of two groups were analyzed.ResultsClinical features such as severe dyssomnia, anxiety agitation, emotion depressing, loss of interest, feeling waste and sense of guilty in patients of observation group were significant different with those in control group. The rate of family harmoniousness and society supporting between patients of two groups were significantly different. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia changes on ST-T in the Holter reports of patients in observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The incidence of cardiac sudden death of patients in observation group was also higher than patients in control group (P<0.05).ConclusionClinical symptoms such as severs dyssomnia, anxiety agitation, emotion depressing are easily occurred in senile coronary heart disease patients with depression. Patients with depression have higher incidence of cardiac sudden death, having better relationship and society support are advantageous to prevent and reduce the depression in senile coronary heart disease patients.