Objective To establish the technique of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and to study the reference value of insulin sensitivity index in healthy Chinese. Methods According to the feedback mathematical model developed by DeFronzo, the technique of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was used in 90 healthy Chi- nese [ male:female =71 = 19; age; (28. 3±6. 1) years; body mass index (20. 9±1.5) kg/m2 ] to study die glu-cose metabolized rate. Blood samples were obtained at timed intervals in the fasting state and during the clamp for the measurement of glucose, insulin and C peptide. Results During the clamp tests, the blood glucose levels were con-trolled within 10% of target value. The coefficient of variation of glucose levels was 3. 8% 0.1%. In the steady state, the insulin sensitivity index (glucose metabolized rate, M value ) was (7.78±2.30) mg· kg-1 min-1, which was distributed normally. The lowest quartile of M value was 6. 286 mg·kg -1 min-1'. The coefficient of variation of M value was 9.4%±2.8%. Conclusion The technique of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and the reference value of insulin sensitivity index in healthy Chinese are successfully established in our center.

emic euglycemic clamp quantitively.

KK-Ay mice with type 2 diabetes were divided into metformin plus high-fat diet,metformin plus low-fat diet,high fat diet alone and low fat diet alone groups.AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)activity was measured in skeletal muscle.The results showed that metformin and low-fat diet were able to increase AMPK activity.However,no additive effect on AMPK activity by metformin and low-fat diet was found.

Objective To study the rationality and possibility of 64 slice spiral CT in the examination of the temporal bone at low dose.Methods The same CT technique and temporal bone mode as those for clinical CT were used,two cranium specimens(four ears)were scanned with Somatom Sensation 64-slice spiral CT at different mA(380,300,200,160,120,80),and muhi-planar reformation was performed.The CT dose index at different mA groups were measured by 10 cm pencil ionization chamber and head dose phantom.Four anatomic structures on axial images(subarcuate fossa,tendon of tensor tympani, facial recess,etc),four anatomic structures on coronal images(scute,crista transversa,fenestra cochleae, etc)and six anatomic structures on double oblique images(malleus,incus,stirrup bone,upper bony semicircular,etc)were chosen to evaluate and grade the reformation images among different mA groups,and to determine the minimum mA value.Ten ears of five patients were used to test the validity of the minimum mA value.Results CT radiation dose was significantly reduced from(47.8?2.7)to(20.1?2.0)raCy (P

Objective To assess and compare the difference in image quality and exposure dose between single-sided reading image plate(IP)and dual-sided reading IP.Methods A contrast-detail phantom CDRAD 2.0 was exposed by single-sided and dual-sided reading IP with different mAs sets.The entrance surface doses were recorded for all images.Images were then presented to two radiologists on a high resolution monitor of diagnosis workstation.The image quality figure(IQF)was measured for each image. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's correlation test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare the difference in image quality and exposure dose between single-sided IP and dual-sided reading IP. Results With different tube current dosage of 5.6,12.0,20.0,25.0,and 40.0 mAs,IQF values of single-sided reading IP were 47.95,37.68,34.31,28.61,and 24.65,respectively,while those of dual- sided reading IP were 38.83,29.81,29.65,25.16,and 21.43,respectively.The IQF difference between them showed statistical significance(P

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the surgical outcomes of endoscop ic and conventional open thyroidectomies in patients with thyroid disease.Methods116 patients with tyroid tumor were enrolled.56 patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy ( endoscopic group ),and 60 patients underwent conventional open thyroidectomy( conventional group).We analyzed the patients' clinic characteristics,surgical outcomes and complications between the two groups.ResultsThe blood loss was less in the endoscopic group than the open group[( 16.8 ± 9.6) ml vs ( 24.9 ± 14.2 ) ml,t =- 2.427,P ＜ 0.05].The degree of satisfaction for cosmetic outcome in endoscopy group( 96.4％ ) was higher than that in conventional group ( 16.7％ ) ( x2 =74.508,P ＜ 0.01 ).There was no significant difference in the operating time,volume of drainage and postoperative hospital stay between two groups,and there was no significant difference in the skin ecchymosis,redness and swelling and postoperative pain between two groups( all P ＞ 0.05).No severe postoperative complication was encountered,such as injuries of the re current or superior laryngeal nerve,parathyroid gland injury or massive hemorrhage.ConclusionEndoscopic thyroidectomy has less blood loss,mini-open and excellent cosmetic benefits compared with conventional open thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVETo study the selective cytotoxic effect of lentivirus-mediated double suicide gene (CD/TK) against human gastric carcinoma cells SGC-7901 in vitro.

METHODSSGC-7901 cells were infected with FGW-KDRP-CD/TK vector and the infection efficiency was observed under a fluorescence microscope. The morphological changes of the infected cells were observed by Giemsa staining. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed for cell cycle analysis, and the expression of CD/TK was detected by RT-PCR. The infected cells were then treated with the prodrugs ganciclovir (GCV) and/or 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) at different concentrations, and the cytotoxic effects were evaluated using MTT method.

RESULTSThe infection efficiency of the lentiviral vector in SGC-7901 cells increased with the titer of the virus, which produced no significant effect on the cancer cell morphology in vitro or on the percentages of G0-G1, G2-M and S phase cells (P>0.05). RT-PCR demonstrated the expression of CD/TK gene in SGC-7901 cells infected by FGW-KDRP-CD/TK. The infected cells were highly sensitive to the prodrugs with a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect within a specific concentration range of the drugs, whereas the non-infected cells were not sensitive to the prodrugs. Combined use of the two prodrugs produced an obviously stronger inhibitory effect than either of the them (P<0.05). When combined, GCV and 5-FC at the concentration of 0.1+40, 1+80, 10+160, and 100+320 mg/L demonstrated a synergetic effect with a CDI<1.

CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated CD/TK fusion gene system can selectively kill gastric cancer cells, and the two prodrugs show a synergistic cytotoxic effect.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytosine Deaminase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cytotoxins ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics ; metabolism

Oxidative stress is implicated in male infertility and significantly higher reactive oxygen species are detected in 25% of infertile males. Although different agents of various alternative medicines, including traditional Chinese medicine, have been tried with varying success, evidence remains limited on whether and how much herbs or supplements might help increase the anti-oxidant ability of the sperm. This study examined the anti-oxidative effects of icariin, a flavonoid isolated from Herba Epimedii, on the human sperm. We prepared the FeSO4/H2O2-damaged human sperms, which were co-cultured with icariin in vitro, and then observed the changes of the sperm by employing Raman micro-spectroscopy. The results showed that Raman mapping with a 514 nm excitation laser allowed clear differentiation of the nucleus, neck, and, in particular, the mitochondria-rich middle piece of a human sperm cell. The effect of icariin on different organelles of the sperm was quantified by localized spectral Raman signatures obtained within milli-seconds, and icariin could keep the "Raman fingerprint" of the human sperm the same as the control groups, suggesting that icariin could protect the human sperm from being damaged by FeSO4/H2O2. Icariin may serve as a tonifying and replenishing agent of herbal origin for enhancing reproductive functions.

Objective To investigate the relation between intrauterine growth and the development of carotid atherosclerosis in later life. Methods The intima-media thickness of carotid was measured with ultrasonography in 2036 people aged above fifty who had complete birth records, and divided into normal and abnormal group. They were asked to fill in the cardio-cerebrovascular questionnaire, and venous blood samples were taken and analysed for various biochemical parameters. The relation between carotid atherosclerosis and various parameters at birth and in adult life was assessed. Results The birthweight and head circumference in abnormal group were less than those in normal. The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was greatest in those weighed 2500g or less, whose risk of carotid atherosclerosis was greater than those weighed between 3000g and 3500g, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions Increased atherogenesis may be one independent mechanism mediating the epidemiological link between impaired fetal growth and vascular disease.

Objective To observe the postoperative dynamic changes of body temperature (BT),C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count.Methods One hundred and two consecutive patients with surgically treated intracranial or spinal lesions,admitted to our hospital from July 2011 to February 2012,were chosen and divided into group A (non infection) and group B (infection) depending on whether postoperative bacterial infections (POBIs) were occurred.Evaluation of postoperative BT and CRP levels,as well as WBC count,was performed.Results WBC and BT levels would elevate in majority of patients with or without POBIs one day after the operation; the difference between the two groups showed no significant difference (P＞0.05).Elevation of BT and WBC levels was noted in 23.8％ and 21.4％ patients from group A and in 88.9％ and 83.3％ patients from group B five days after the operation,with significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).Similar results were seen seven day after the operation.Five and seven days after the operation,78 patients (92.8％) and 68 patients (80.9％) still had abnormal CRP level in group A.ROC curve revealed that better diagnostic performance five and seven days after the operation could be found as compared with that one and three days after the operation.Conclusion Elevation of serum CRP,WBC and BT levels can occur in patients with or without POBIs on the first three days of neurosurgical operation; persistent anomalies or secondary elevation could indicate ongoing infection,which needs attention from clinic.