The recently successful cloning of extracellular calcium sensing receptor (CaR) has revealed its vital role in adjusting and maintaining the homeostasis calcium or even other mineral ion in the body. CaR belongs to the big family of G-protein coupled receptors, and has 1079 amino acids in its structure. CaR is broadly distributed in a variety of tissues, including parathyroid, thyroid C cells, kidney, intestine and bone. So far, three disorders of extracellular calcium homeostasis have been linked with abnormalities of CaR function. Agonists and antagonists of CaR may be proved useful in the treatment of the diseases due to calcium metabolic disorders.

Long non-coding RNAs are important regulators of gene expression.ANRIL which was coded on the Chr9p21.3 loci participates in the pathogenesis of tumor, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and oth-er diseases.Multiple ANRIL isoforms are tissue-specific.ANRIL mainly functions through Polycomb proteins, while there are also other downstream targets.The mechanism of each isoform and the downstream pathways are hotspots incurrent researches.

Objective To investigate the effect of ultrashortwave diathermy on pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic cor pulmonale(CCP), and its mechanism. Methods Eighty-seven cases of acute phase CCP were divided into 2 groups: an ultrashortwave treatment group, in which 45 patients were treated with both ultrashortwave diathermy and conventional treatment; and a control group, in which 42 patients received regular treatment. The plasma levels of VEGF, ET-1 and the PaO_2, mPAP and FEV1.0 in the two groups were measured before and after treatment. Results In contrast to the control group, the FEV1.0 and PaO_2 of the experimental group were remar-kably increased, while their VEGF, ET-1 and mPAP were significantly decreased after treatment. VEGF and ET-1 were negatively related to PaO_2, and positively related to mPAP. Conclusions Ultrashortwave therapy is effective in treating pulmonary hypertension in patients with CCP. The mechanism for this may involve the synthesis and release of VEGF and ET-1.

To compare the diagnostic value of high-resolution uhrasonography (HR-US) with nerve conduction study (NCS) in patients with clinically defined carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS),a prospective study was conducted on 37 consecutive patients investigated for sensory hand symptoms. With the clinical diagnosis of CTS as gold standard,NCS showed higher diagnostic sensitivity (80％)than ultrasound (61％) (P =0.047 ).The positive predictive value of HR-US for CTS was 100％.The results indicated that HR-US could be used as a screening method for majority of clinically suspected CTS patients and only for those with negative HR-US results.

BACKGROUND: Within the bone marrow stroma there exists a subset of non-hematopoietic stem cells referred to as marrow stromal cells or mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a group of cells with highly capability of self-renew and potential of multilineage differentiation, these properties make them present a promising prospect for clinical practice. Of particular concern is hepatogenic potential that can be used for liver-directed stem cell therapy and transplantation. However, the culture system has not been developed.OBJECTIVE: To explore whether human MSCs are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in vitro.DESIGN : Open study.SETTING: Department of Infectious Disease and Institute of Urology Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University.MATERIALS: The study was performed in the Institute of Urolgoy Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from July 2004 to March 2005. Bone marrow was donated by healthy adult with informed consent. DMEM/F12 medium (Gibco); insulin, transferrin, human epidermal growth factor (EGF); human HGF; monoclonal antibodies against human AFP; FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG (Sigma); human bFGF (Invitrogen); monoclonal antibodies against human CK18 and CK19 (Chemicon); fetal bovine serum (Si jiqin, Hangzhou).METHODS: Bone marrow (10 mL) in this study was aspirated from the iliac crest of healthy donors. MSCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation in combination with plastic adherence. For hepatic differentiation, the 4th- to 8th-passage human MSCs seeded on 24-well tissue culture plates coated with 0.1% gelatin, at 1×104 MSCs/mL, were serum deprived for 2 days, in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10 μg/L EGF, 10 μg/L bFGF, 5 mg/L insulin and 5 mg/L transferrin. Differentiation was induced by treating MSCs with differentiation medium, consisting of DMEWF12 supplemented with 10 μg/L bFGF, 20 μg/L HGF, 5 mg/L insulin, 5 mg/L transferrin. Medium changes were performed every three days. MSCs without HGF and bFGF in medium served as the control. In the differentiating period, the concentration of AFP in the suernatant was determined dynamically by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The hepatic surface phenotype including AFP, CK18 and CK19 were identified by immunofluorescent staining at day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Glycogen storage was detected by Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① the morphological changes of induced MSCs; ② the concentration of AFP in the supernatant; ③ the hepatic surface phenotype; ④ glycogen storage.RESULTS: ① After 14 days ofinduction, the fibroblast-like morphology of human MSCs was lost and cells became broadened and fiattened. After prolonged culture, polygonal cells were seen and further matured hepatocyte-like colonies were seen by day 28. ② The concentration of AFP in the supernatant was first detected on day 14, at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL, and increased to 0.4 μg/mL by day 17, then decreased to 0.3 μg/mL by day 21. ③ Immunofiuorescent staining showed the expression of AFP and CK18 until day 14. The expression of CK19 was detected by day 28. ④ Glycogen storage could be detected by day 21.CONCLUSION: Human bone marrow MSCs are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells and may sere as a new source of cells for cell therapy of hepatic diseases.

In recent years, with the rapid development of antitumor targeted drug therapy, the preparation of antitumor liposomes and its targeting research have attracted attention of scholars. Anti-tumor targeted drug treatment requires the drug to reach the tumor site has a relatively high concentration and longer retention time, the tumor cells have a strong cytotoxic activity, while normal cells no significant side effects.The drug has an in vivo distribution and specificity for the target fine action.The preparation methods of liposomes include film dispersion method,reverse evaporation method,ethanol injection method,supercritical reverse phase evaporation method and freeze-drying method. Antitumor targeting liposomes can be divided into active targeting liposomes and passive targeting liposomes. Targeted liposomes can specifically target tumor cells by recognizing specific targets in the tumor tissue,thus enriching tumor cells and killing tumor cells. In this paper,the preparation of anti-tumor liposomes and the progress of its targeting,for future study and application of liposomes provide a reference.

[Objective]To discuss the effects of DHS and compression screw application on femoral intertrochanteric fracture.[Method]Internal fixation was performed with DHS,DHS and compression screw,Ender nail and proximal femoral anatomical plate in 185 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture.The main outcome measures were operation duration,coxa adducta rates and postoperative Sanders scoring.[Result]All patients were followed up for 9-48 months.Operation duration was similar in the four groups.There were significant differences in coxa adducta rates and postoperative Sander's scores.According to the Sander's scores,the excellent to good rates in DHS and compression screw,DHS,Ender nail and proximal femoral anatomical plate groups were 94.6%,85.3%,75.4% and 80.6%,respectively.The coax adducta rates were 2.4%,9.5%,22.2% and 19.2%,respectively.[Conclusion]All the four kinds of internal fixation can be used for femoral intertrochanteric fracture,but DHS and compression screw is the best one for its good restoration of joint function and has no or little complication.

Purpose This study examined the effect of pre-exercise low and high glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate (CHO) meals on running performance. Methods Eight endurance-trained male runners completed two trials that were separated by at least seven days in a counterbalanced design. Two hours before the run and after an overnight fast, each subject consumed an isocaloric meal containing either low (GI = 37, LGI) or high (GI = 77, HGI) GI CHO foods that provided 1.5 g CHO(kg -1 body mass in random order. Each trial consisted of a 21km performance run on a level treadmill. The subjects were required to run at 70% VO 2max during the first 5km of the run. They then completed the remaining 16km as fast as possible. Results All of the subjects achieved a faster performance time after the consumption of the LGI meal (LGI vs HGI: 98 7? 2 min vs 101 5?2 min, P

Objective To study the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) on the viability of skin flap treated with radiotherapy at different time after operation and clarify its enhancing effect on angiogenesis.Methods Fifty Wistar rat were randomly divided into 3,5,7,9 d groups and control group.A 3 cm?4 cm full thickness dorsal flap with the pedicle remaining attached at the posterior end in rats and were treated with 60Co radiotherapy at the 2nd,4th,and 6th day postoperatively.The total quantity was 12 Gy.In the experiment groups every rat was given VEGF 120 ng on the 3rd,5th,7th and 9th day.The rats in control group were given the same quality normal saline and radiotherapy.Pathological observation,fluorescence staining and sesuccinic dehyrogenase(SDH) assay were used to measure the blood vessel density,blood vessel diameter,microcirculation and cell vitality of skin flap.Results In 5 d and 7 d VEGF group,the number of average blood vessels and cells of the skin falp was increased compared with control group(P