Objective To study the effects of pioglitazone on visceral fat tissue metabolic activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance by using 18 fluoro deoxy glucose (FDG)‐positron emission tomography (PET)andcomputed tomography (CT)imaging. Methods FDG‐PET and CT imaging were performed in 62 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT ). Lipid and glycemic profiles and inflammatory markers were detected in all patients. These patients randomly received treatments with either pioglitazone or glimepiride for 16 weeks.Results After 16 weeks ,pioglitazone‐treated group versus glimepiride‐treated group showed a significantly decreased visceral fat area[(109.1 ± 45.0) vs(122.5 ± 52.0 )cm2 ] and a significantly decreased visceral fat metabolic activity[(0.47 ± 0.11)vs(0.55 ± 0.11)](P<0.05). Conclusion Our study indicates that pioglitazone decreases the visceral fat volume and its metabolic activity in patients with T 2DM or IGT.

BACKGROUND:The etiological factor for rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear, but the effects of nuclear factor-κB on the onset of rheumatoid arthritis have been gradual y paid great attention by rheumatologists.
OBJECTIVE:By using the RNA interference (RNAi) technique to block the signal pathway of nuclear factor-κB
mRNA of human rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells, this study explored its application prospect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
METHODS:The synovial cells were isolated, digested, and cultured for further use. In accordance with the
design principle of smal interfering RNA (siRNA), target sequences of siRNA of nuclear factor-κB were identified, and siRNA expression vector of nuclear factor-κB was synthesized and constructed. The four pGenesil-1/nuclear factor-κB siRNA expression vectors were transfected into the first passage of synovial cells that wel grew. Blank and negative control groups were set. cells at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, 5 and 7 days after transfection were col ected, and RNA was extracted. Intracellular nuclear factor-κB mRNA expression levels were measured, and siRNA plasmid vector that could effectively inhibit nuclear factor-κB mRNA expression was screened out.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Nuclear factor-κB highly expressed in synovial cells after human rheumatoid arthritis. 3#pGenesil-1/nuclear factor-κB apparently suppressed nuclear factor-κB mRNA expression in synovial cells with human rheumatoid arthritis. RNAi technique blocked nuclear factor-κB mRNA expression. Therefore, the block of nuclear factor-κB signal pathway might be a good target for rheumatoid arthritis gene therapy.

AIM:To investigate the effects of 17?-estradiol (E_2) on the gene expression of typeⅠA and typeⅠB bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR-ⅠA,ⅠB) in rat bone marrow stromal cells exposured to the differentiation medium and to elucidate the effects of E_2 on osteoblastogenesis. METHODS: Adherent bone marrow stromal cells were cultured in differentiation medium containing DEX(10 -7 mol?L -1 ) and 1,25(OH)_2D_3 (10 -9 mol?L -1 ) and different concentrations of E_2. The gene expression of BMPR-ⅠA,ⅠB was quantified by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: E_2 evidently inhibited the expression of BMPR-ⅠA mRNA in bone marrow stromal cells.The suppression was dose-dependent. When examined under various concentrations of E_2 (0-10 -6 mol?L -1 ),the expression of BMPR-ⅠA mRNA were decreased from (25.7?2.5)% to(16.3?1.5)%( P

Objective To investigate the effects of 17?-estradiol (E2) on the gene expression of typeⅠA bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR-ⅠA) and core-binding factor alpha 1 (Cbf?1) in rat bone marrow stromal cells exposed to the differentiation medium and to elucidate the effects of E2 on osteoblastogenesis. Methods Adherent bone marrow stromal cells were cultured in differentiation medium containing DEX (10 -7 mol/L), 1,25-(OH)2D3 (10 -9 mol/L) and different concentrations of E2. Effects of different concentrations of E2 on the gene expression of BMPR-ⅠA and Cbf?1 was quantified by RT-PCR based on the comparison with an internal reference, ?-actin expression, and identified by Northern blotting. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of cells was detected. Contents of type Ⅰ collagen were determined by Van Gieson staining. Results E2 could evidently inhibit the expression of BMPR-ⅠA and Cbf?1 mRNA during the differentiation process of bone marrow stromal cells into osteoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. These were confirmed by Northern blotting. The ALP activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner, but the amount of type Ⅰ collagen decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion E2 can significantly inhibit the gene expression of BMPR-ⅠA and Cbf?1 in bone marrow stromal cells and inhibit osteoblastogenesis in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of multi-slice CTA(MSCTA) in cerebral aneurysms.Methods 15 patients with cerebral aneurysms were undergone MSCTA,of which,DSA were performed in 5 cases,and Gnglielmi detachable coil were performed in 2 cases . The images of 15 patients were processed with maximum intensity projection ( MIP ) , volume rendering ( VR ) and multiple planar reconstruction ( MPR ) .Results 16 cerebral aneurysms in 15 patients were found by MSCTA , the location of aneurysms was in the vertebral artery in 2,in the cerebral arterial circle in 5,in the anterior cerebral artery in 5 ,and in the middle cerebral artery in 3.DSA displayed 4 cerebral aneurysms in 5. 3D-CTA imaging and MPR combined with original transect images and multi-angle observation wereof great advantageous for diagnosis. The position, size and width of the fundus of cerebral aneurysms in 5 patients displayed by CTA wereaccordant with the results of DSA.Conclusion MSCTA can display cerebral aneurysms clearly. 3D-CTA combined with MPR and original images can make diagnosis more accurate and objective, and provide valuable information for surgery or interventional therapy.

At the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we reviewed the development and innovation of the Journal during the 30 years, discussed the special feature of the Journal and the publishing thoughts, and put forward the development plan. By abiding to showing the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, keeping pace with the academic advancement, and following the editing standard strictly, the Journal has obtained the social approval and academic position for its growth from a small-scale and unknown periodical to a bimonthly, normalized and high-quality journal.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic action and molecular mechanisms of Oxalis comiculata L. extracts on rats with alcoholic liver disease. Methods Forty-two male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10),model group(n=8),moderate dose oxalis group(n=8),high dose oxalis group(n=8)and prednisone group(n=8). The model of rat with alcoholic liver disease was established by liquor gavage;after 12 weeks,moderate dose oxalis group,high dose oxalis group and prednisone group were given the total extract of oxalis 3.5 g?kg-1?d-1,7 g?kg-1?d-1 or prednisolone acetate 0.9 mg?kg-1?d-1,respectively,the remaining two groups were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage daily for 6 weeks. Levels of indexes of liver function,superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),antidiuretic hormone(ADH)and aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH)in rats were detected. The pathological changes of liver tissues in rats were observed under light microscope;tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) expression level was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results Compared with the normal control group, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT),alkaline phosphatase(AKP),γ-glutamyl transferase(GGT),MDA were increased significantly,while the levels of SOD,ADH and ALDH were obviously reduced in model group. Compared with the model group,AST,ALT,AKP,GGT and MDA contents were decreased significantly,while the levels of SOD, ADH and ALDH were markedly increased in the drug groups,and the changes of levels of AST,ALT,AKP,GGT, SOD,ADH in high dose oxalis group were the most obvious〔AST(U/L):117.38±22.75 vs. 201.62±17.95,ALT (U/L):33.51±11.64 vs. 59.14±9.52,AKP(U/L):95.19±24.85 vs. 169.39±37.21,GGT(U/L):46.54±14.55 vs. 89.37±12.49,SOD(U/mg):137.03±12.03 vs. 80.64±13.45,ADH(U/L):3.48±0.71 vs. 2.05±0.91,P<0.05 or P<0.01〕,and the most significant changes of MDA and ALDH were in oxalis moderate dose group〔MDA (mmol/mg):2.05±0.64 vs. 3.17±0.61,ALDH(U/L):7.59±1.95 vs. 5.71±1.33,both P<0.05〕. In normal control group,no obvious lesion was seen in the rat liver tissues. In the model group,fatty degeneration of liver cells with formation of bullae was found,while in the moderate and high dose oxalis groups,cells with macrovesicular steatosis were significantly decreased. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of TNF-α in the cytoplasm and part of cell membrane of macrophage was significantly decreased in liver tissues in oxalis moderate and high dose groups. Conclusion These results show that the Oxalis comiculata L. extracts possess certain therapeutic effect on alcoholic liver disease.

Objective To explore influence of continued nursing on postoperative comprehensive ability of patients after craniotomy in neurosurgery department.Methods A total of 67 patients after craniotomy were randomly divided into experimental group with 35 cases and control group with 32 cases,among whom 3 lost the follow up and 34 patients and 30 were eventually included in the experimental group and the control group.The experimental group was given continued care and the control group applied conventional care after discharge.The comprehensive functional scores and self-assessment ability scores were recorded at 3 months after discharge.Results The experimental group had higher comprehensive functional scores at 3 months after discharge than the control group (P ＜ 0.05),physical function,and social cognitive score were higher in the experimental group (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant difference was found in verbal function between groups (P ＞ 0.05).Meanwhile,the self-care ability in the experimental group was higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The continued nursing model plays an important role in the recovery of patients after craniotomy.It can improve the patient's comprehensive function and self-care ability,and enhance quality of life of patients.

Objective To explore influence of continued nursing on postoperative comprehensive ability of patients after craniotomy in neurosurgery department.Methods A total of 67 patients after craniotomy were randomly divided into experimental group with 35 cases and control group with 32 cases,among whom 3 lost the follow up and 34 patients and 30 were eventually included in the experimental group and the control group.The experimental group was given continued care and the control group applied conventional care after discharge.The comprehensive functional scores and self-assessment ability scores were recorded at 3 months after discharge.Results The experimental group had higher comprehensive functional scores at 3 months after discharge than the control group (P ＜ 0.05),physical function,and social cognitive score were higher in the experimental group (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant difference was found in verbal function between groups (P ＞ 0.05).Meanwhile,the self-care ability in the experimental group was higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The continued nursing model plays an important role in the recovery of patients after craniotomy.It can improve the patient's comprehensive function and self-care ability,and enhance quality of life of patients.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of two skin care regimens for incontinence-associated dermatitis. Methods A total of 53 patients with incontinence-associated dermatitis between March and September 2014 were randomly divided into two groups using random number table. Besides consistent skin care methods, group A was additionally treated with silicone coating dressing and group B was treated with skin protective liquid dressing at perineal skin area every 8 hours after cleaning. The effects of nursing care on healing rate and healing time of incontinence-associated dermatitis within 7 days of two groups were compared. Results The healing rate of group A was higher than that of group B (85. 71% vs 61. 54%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 =5. 352,P<0. 05). The healing time of group A was shorter than that of group B[(5.33 ±2.019)d vs (6.92 ±2.544)d]. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t= -2. 525,P<0. 05). The medical cost of group A was lower than that of group B[(480. 00 ± 181. 723) vs (623. 08 ± 228. 994)], the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t= -2. 525, P<0. 05). Conclusions The effect of silicone coating dressing for the treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis is superior to the skin protective liquid dressing.