0.70,cluster in two pairs of medicines are similar. Conclusion:It's reliable to cluster analysis the TCM by regarding the element contents as the character of these medicines. The larger the correlation coefficient is,the more similar the nature,flavor and efficacy of the medicines are,which suggested that trace element contents were closely related to(have much to do with) the flavor,nature and efficacy. The study provides method for the cluster relationship among TCM.

Objective To determine the expression profile of serum microRNAs(miRNAs) in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EO-FAD) patients. methods miRNA microarrays were performed to detect the expression profile of serum miRNAs in 2 cases of EO-FAD patients,2 cases of EO-FAD carriers and 2 cases of normal controls.Preliminary bioinformatic analysis was conducted. Result sIt was found that 21 miRNAs were up-regulated and 22 miRNAs were down-regulated in serum of EO-FAD patients,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).miR-5704(P=0.0002),miR-4639-3p(P=0.0195),miR-107(P=0.0204) were markedly up-regulated,miR-5572(P=0.0008),miR-204-3p(P=0.0014),miR-542-5p(P=0.0106) and miR-155-5p(P=0.0240) were markedly down-regulated.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested that the dysregulated miRNAs may be involved in the mechanism of EO-FAD by affecting neurotrophin signaling pathway.Conclusion miR-5704,miR-4639-3p,miR-107,miR-5572,miR-204-3p,miR-542-5p and miR-155-5p may be used as potential biomarkers of EO-FAD,and involved in the mechanism of EO-FAD by affecting neurotrophin signaling pathway.

Maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) are three staple crops and accordingly it is very meaningful to optimize the condition of their protoplasts isolation. The concentration of the enzyme, the time of isolation and centrifugal force in protoplast isolation were investigated to find their effects on protoplast yield and viability using leaves of maize (Zong 3), wheat (Chinese Spring) and rice (Nipponbare). The results show that the concentration of the enzyme and the time of isolation affected the protoplast yield significantly. Although the yield of protoplast was increased with high concentration of enzyme and long incubated time, it led to too much cells breakdown. The orthogonal experimental design results show that the best condition of maize protoplast isolation was Cellulase R-10 1.5%, Macerozyme R-10 0.5%, 50 r/min 7 h, 100 x g 2 min and the protoplasts yield was 7x106 cells/g fresh weight (FW); the best condition of wheat protoplast isolation was Cellulase R-10 1.5%, Macerozyme R-10 0.5%, 50 r/min 5 h, 100 x g 2 min and the protoplasts yield was 6 x 10(6) cells/g FW; the best condition of rice protoplast isolation was Cellulase R-10 2.0%, Macerozyme R-10 0.7%, 50 r/min 7 h, 1 000 x g 2 min and the protoplasts yield was 6x10(6) cells/g FW. The vitalities were more than 90% using fluorescein diacetate staining method. 50%-80% transformation efficiency was obtained when protoplasts were transformed by green fluorescent protein using PEG-Ca2+ method.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Oryza ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plant Leaves ; enzymology ; Protoplasts ; cytology ; Triticum ; chemistry ; genetics ; Zea mays ; cytology ; genetics

Objective:To examine the potential influence factors of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).Methods:A 1∶2 pair-matched, case-control study was conducted from July 2011 to December 2012 .A pair was composed of one AAA patient recruited from the Vascular Surgery Department , Chinese PLA General Hospital and two gender-and age-matched non-AAA subjects , one from the same hospital and the other from the community in Fangshan District in Beijing .Demographic data , medical history and the lifestyle of each subject were collected .Moreover , all the participants underwent abdominal ultra-sound or computed tomography ( CT ) and peripheral venous blood samples were obtained .Results:There were 155 case/control pairs .The multivariate conditional logistic regression model confirmed that suffering from hypertension conferred a 1.98-fold (95%CI 1.12-3.18) increased likelihood of AAA. Smoking was a strong independent risk factor of AAA , with odds ratios ( 95% confidence intervals ) of 5.23 (2.44-11.23).Dyslipidemia(OR=2.61,95%CI 1.45-4.70), a higher level of serum hs-CRP (OR=2.43,95%CI 1.37-4.31) and homocysteine (OR=2.73,95%CI 1.61-4.65) were all asso-ciated with AAA.Conclusion: Hypertension and smoking are the risk factors of AAA .Dyslipidemia, hsCRP and Hcy are associated with AAA .

Objective:To explore the correlation between glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and brachial-ankle pulse velocity (baPWV). Methods:A community-based cross-sec-tional study was conducted in Beijing, China. Every subject underwent physical examinations, glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1 c ) , blood lipid and baPWV measurements and completed a standardized question-naire. T2DM patients were divided into well controlled and poorly controlled groups according to HbA1c levels. The correlation between glycemic control of T2DM patients and baPWV was analyzed. Results:In this study, 1 341 subjects were recruited, including 733 T2DM patients and 608 non-diabetes sub-jects. Compared with non-diabetes subjects, abnormal baPWV ( baPWV≥1 700 cm/s) rate for T2DM patients was higher (40. 8% vs. 26. 8%, P<0. 001). With HbA1c<6. 5% or <7. 0% as the aim of glycemic control in T2DM patients, the abnormal baPWV rates for non-diabetes subjects, well controlled and poorly controlled T2DM patients were significantly different (non-diabetes vs. HbA1c<6. 5% T2DM vs. HbA1c≥6. 5% T2DM: 26. 8% vs. 32. 8% vs. 42. 6%, P <0. 001; non-diabetes vs. HbA1c <7. 0% T2DM vs. HbA1c≥7. 0% T2DM:26. 8% vs. 36. 1% vs. 43. 4%, P<0. 001). After being ad-justed for gender, age, smoking status, diabetes mellitus family history, T2DM duration, cardiovascular diseases ( CVD ) , waist hip ratio ( WHR ) , systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) , diastolic blood pressure ( DBP) , total triglycerides ( TG) , high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C) , and low density lipo-protein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , the Logistic regression models suggested that glycemic control status of T2DM patients was associated with abnormal baPWV. Compared with non-diabetes subjects, the ORs for abnormal baPWV in HbA1 c <6 . 5% T2 DM patients and HbA1 c≥6 . 5% T2 DM patients were 0 . 927 (95%CI 0. 560-1. 537) and 1. 826 (95%CI 1. 287-2. 591). Compared with non-diabetes subjects, the ORs for abnormal baPWV in HbA1c<7. 0% T2DM patients and HbA1c≥7. 0% T2DM patients were 1. 210 (95%CI 0. 808-1. 811) and 1. 898 (95%CI 1. 313-2. 745). Conclusion:The glycemic con-trol status of T2DM patients from communities is significantly associated with baPWV. Poor glycemic con-trol is a risk factor for abnormal baPWV. Keeping HbA1c under control might lower the risk of cardiovas-cular diseases in T2DM patients.

To indicate the relationship between structure and function of loops from Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal protein Cry1Ba, and the influence of amino acids mutation on toxicity against diamond back moth Plutella xylostella, five mutations at the loops of Cry1Ba were constructed by overlapping primer PCR, and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Bioassay results showed that the toxicity of mutation M1 (loop1: 340WSNTR344-deletion), compared with that of Cry1Ba (LC50 0.96 microg/mL), decreased significantly with LC50 35.51 microg/mL. And the toxicity of mutation M2 (402Y-G), M3 (400GIYLEP405-PSAV), M4 (400GIYLEPIH407-ILGS) was also reduced to some extent respectively. Only M5 (mutation at loop3: 472LQSRV476 - AGAVYTL) showed slightly increased activity against P. xylostella, but not significantly (LC50 0.81 microg/mL). Referring to the structures of Cry1Ba which was predicted using Swiss-Model software, and bioassay data, we can conclude that loop1 and loop2 play a important role on determining the activity of Cry1Ba against P. xylostella.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Endotoxins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemolysin Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Models, Molecular ; Moths ; microbiology ; Mutation ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To explore the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and serum stromal cell derived factor-1(SDF-1)levels. Methods A community-based epidemiological field study for T2DM patients and non-T2DM subjects was conducted in Beijing,China. Every subject underwent physical examinations, biochemical tests of stromal cell derived factor 1 and so on,and completed a standardized questionnaire. A total of 756 subjects were recruited in our analysis ,including 267 T2DM patients and 489 non-T2DM subjects ,T2DM patients were further divided into 81 simple T2DM patients and 186 macrovascular complication patients on the basis of the status of macrovascular complication. The correlation between serum SDF-1 levels and T2DM was analyzed. Results Compared with non-T2DM group,the level of SDF-1 in T2DM group was higher(P=0.019). The level of SDF-1 in simple T2DM group was also higher than macrovascular complication group(P=0.044). In the multi-ple linear regression analysis,after adjustment for age,gender,smoking,drinking,dyslipidemia,hypertension and BMI,SDF-1 level in simple T2DM group was higher than macrovascular complication group(P = 0.049), still. Conclusions Simple T2DM patients had a higher serum SDF-1 level than T2DM patients with macrovascular complications as well as those who did not suffer T2DM,suggesting that the stromal cell derived factor-1 may play a certain role in the development of T2DM and macrovascular complications.

Objective: To explore the relationship between glycemic control and visceral adiposity index (VAI) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.Methods: A community-based epidemiological field study for patients with T2DM aged ≥ 40 years was conducted in China.Every participant underwent physical examinations, biochemical tests of fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and so on, and a questionnaire, including anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle, disease history, family history, and medication use.Those participants with HbA1c ≥7.0% were classified as the poorly controlled in our analysis of relationship between glycemic control and VAI.Anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle, and biochemical indexes of the participants were compared among the groups of different VAI levels.Logistic models were applied in multiple analysis adjusting for possible confounders.Results: A total of 1 607 patients with T2DM were recruited in our analysis with a mean age of (59.4±8.1) years and an average T2DM duration of (7.0±6.4) years.Among them, 78.3% were on hypoglycemic therapy.The cutoff points of quartiles of VAI were calculated for the males and females, respectively.According to the ascending order of the quartiles of VAI, the participants were divided into four groups, i.e.Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4.The poor glycemic control rate for these groups were 60.6%, 65.7%, 70.1%, and 71.0%, respectively (Trend χ2=12.20, P<0.001).After adjustment for age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), LDL-C, smoking, cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CVD) history, hypoglycemic therapy, T2DM duration, and family history of diabetes, the Logistic regression models showed that the glycemic control rate was significantly associated with VAI levels among the patients with T2DM.Compared with the participants in group Q1, the ORs of poor glycemic control for those in groups Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 1.239 (95%CI 0.918 to 1.672), 1.513 (95%CI 1.117 to 2.050), and 1.535 (95%CI 1.128to 2.088), respectively (trend P=0.003).With each quartile increase in VAI, the OR of poor glycemic control was 1.162 (95%CI 1.054 to 1.282).Conclusion: The glycemic control among the patients with T2DM is significantly associated with VAI.High level of VAI is an indicator of poor glycemic control.

Objective:To compare the suicidality risk in major depressive disorder (MDD)patients with and without anxious characteristics,and analyze the risk factors of suicidality in MDD patients. Methods:This was a secondary analysis of the data from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for people with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP),which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP),from September 1,2010 to February 28, 201 1. Based on the anxious module and suicide module of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M. I. N. I),1 172 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious MDD (n=728,62. 1%)and non-anxious MDD(n=444,37. 9%). Logistic regression was employed to examine the risk factors of suicidality in MDD pa-tients. Results:Among the anxious MDD patients,331 (45. 5%)of them had suicidality risk. And 54(12. 2%)of non-anxious MDD patients had suicidality risk. Compare to the non-anxious group,the anxious MDD patients had significantly higher suicidality risk (P<0. 00 1 ). Logistic regression analysis showed that more frequent depressive episodes (OR=2. 07 ),depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms (OR=2. 0 1 ),comorbid with anxious charac-teristics (OR=3. 18)or melancholic characteristics (OR=2. 90)were associated with suicidality risk in patients with MDD. Conclusion:It indicates that the anxious MDD patients may have higher suicidality risk than non-anx-ious MDD patients,and more frequent depressive episodes,depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms,comorbid with anxious characteristics or melancholic characteristics may be risk factors of suicidality in patients with MDD.

Objective:To evaluate the systemic absorption and safety of multiple doses of topical tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream in healthy subjects and patients with psoriasis.Methods:From September 2008 to April 2009, 12 healthy subjects collected from Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College were randomly and equally divided into tazarotene 0.15%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.15% cream group and tazarotene 0.2%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.2% cream group; these subjects were instructed to apply 0.03 g of the test drug per day on each of the 4 body sites, including the flexor aspects of bilateral forearms, waist and back, for 7 consecutive days, and venous blood samples were obtained before, and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after the start of drug application. From October 2010 to August 2011, 60 patients with non-cephalic psoriasis collected from the Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College were randomly divided into 3 groups at a ratio of 3∶1∶1, i.e., tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream group ( n = 36) and tazarotene 0.05% gel group ( n = 12) topically treated with a cream vehicle in the morning and the test drug at night, and betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream group ( n = 12) topically treated with the test drug twice a day (once in the morning and again in the evening) ; the treatment lasted 6 consecutive weeks, and venous blood samples were collected before, and 2, 4 and 6 weeks after drug application. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed to determine the concentrations of tazarotenic acid and betamethasone in plasma. During the trial, adverse events in the subjects were recorded, routine blood and urine examinations were carried out, and liver and kidney function were evaluated before and after treatment. Results:The plasma concentrations of tazarotenic acid and betamethasone in the 12 healthy subjects were below the lower limit of quantitation (0.04 μg/L) after 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-day treatment. After the consecutive treatment, tazarotenic acid and betamethasone were detected in 2 (5.56%) and 4 (11.11%) patients respectively at week 2, 4 or 6 in the tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream group, and the highest plasma concentrations of tazarotenic acid and betamethasone were 0.112 and 0.201 μg/L respectively; in the betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream group, betamethasone was detected in 2 of 12 patients, and the highest plasma concentration of betamethasone was 0.112 μg/L. No test drug-related systemic adverse reactions or laboratory abnormalities were observed in any of the healthy subjects or patients.Conclusion:Multiple doses of topical tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream has advantages of little systemic absorption, no long-term accumulation and good systemic safety.