Objective To study the mechanisms of increasing amyloid [β1-42 (Aβ42) level by presenilin-1 (PS-1) mutation of V97L.Methods Expression level of neprilysin (NEP) in nontransfected, or mock vector, wild type (wt) PS-1 and V97L-PS-1-transfected SH-SY5Y cells were assessed by reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.The level of Aβ42 was also assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The mRNA level of NEP was decreased significantly in PS-1 V97L transfected cells (0.650 ± 0.010) compared to that in normal cells (1.090 ± 0.015), wt PS-1 gene (1.040 ± 0.021) and mock (1.080 ± 0.020) stably transfected cell lines (t = 9.236, 10.452, 5.678; all P < 0.01).Although there was a decreased tendency in the protein expression of NEP in PS-Ⅰ V97L transfected cells (1.000 ± 0.126)compared to that in normal cells (1.020 ± 0.110), wt PS-1 gene (1.040 ±0.110), mock (2.130 ±0.130) stably transfected cell lines, nosignificant differences were found.The expression of Aβ42 was increased significantly in PS-1 V97L transfected cells compared to other cell lines (t = 2.109, 3.355, 3.976; all P < 0.01).Conclusions PS-1 V97L mutation can decrease the transcription of NEP, however, in contrast, this mutation also resulted in increased Aβ42.The mechanism needs further analysis.

Objective To explore the activation of circulating platelet in patients with cerebral infarction(CI) and its correlation with CI.Methods The fibrinogen receptor(FIB-R) and P-selectin were used as molecular marker of circulating platelets, which were analyzed by flow cytometry in 80 healthy persons and 127 CI patients in acute and rehabinating period.Results The FIB-R expression on circulating platelet of CI patients in dangerous period was significantly higher than that in steady period and healthy persons(P0.05).Conclusion The activation of circulating platelet has a close relationship with CI. FIB-R may be a sensitive molecular marker of circulating activated platelet. It will help to evaluate the severe extent of CI and give an anti-platelet treatment as soon as possible to improve the prognosis of CI through monitoring the FIB-R of CI patients successively.

Objective To study the degradation of Rhizoma Typhonii polysaccharide with sulfuric acid under the normal and ultrasonic condition. Methods The orthogonal test table L9(34) was used to optimize 4 factors including acid concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature and ultrasonic power, with the yield of the low-molecular-weight polysaccharide as the index. Results The optimal conditions of discomposing Rhizoma Typhonii polysaccharide with sulfuric acid were 10% sulfuric acid, 100 ℃ for 2 h under the normal condition,and the yield of low-molecular-weight polysaccharide was 36.17%. Under the ultrasonic condition, the optimal conditions were 150 W of the ultrasonic power, 5% sulfuric acid, 40 ℃ for 1 h, and the yield was 44.63%. Conclusion The degrading yield of the low-molecular-weight polysaccharide can be increased under ultrasonic condition with sulfuric acid.

Background: The conventional therapy for chronic hepatitis C is the combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin. However, it has some adverse effects and does not response to some patients, and it is also very expensive. Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Search strategy: Electronic and manual searches were conducted and the search ended in July 2009. Inclusion criteria: We included randomized clinical trials testing Chinese herbal medicine vs placebo, non-specific treatment, antiviral treatment, or Chinese herbal medicine combined with antiviral treatment vs antiviral treatment alone. Data extraction and analysis: Selection of trials for inclusion, assessment of methodological quality, data extraction and data syntheses were conducted according to the protocol of a Cochrane systematic review by the authors. Results: Fifty-one randomized trials (involving 3 678 patients) with various methodological quality were included. The studies published in English had good quality, while studies published in Chinese were of poor quality. The pooled results showed that Chinese herbal medicine alone or in combination with antiviral treatment was generally better than non-specific treatment or antiviral treatment alone, and herbal medicine appeared equal to antiviral treatment regarding comprehensive clinical effect in terms of symptoms, liver function and virological response. Regarding virological response including loss of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and anti-HCV antibodies, herbal medicine was better than non-specific treatment, equal to antiviral treatment, and the combination of herbs and antiviral treatment was better than antiviral treatment alone. Similar positive findings were found for liver function improvement. Adverse effects were observed among herbal injections and interferon treatment, and few cases had severe adverse effects. Conclusion: Herbal medicines included in this review have effects in improving symptoms, liver function, and loss of HCV markers in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, for majority of the included trials were published in Chinese and had low quality, the promising effects from some herbs need to be confirmed in rigorous clinical trials, and the design and reporting of trials should follow international standards. Systematic review registration: http://www.cochrane.org, 380700081611301089.

Objective To investigate the effect of immediate breast construction using prosthesi after nipple-areola-sparing mastectomy.Methods The immediate breast construction using prosthesi after nippleareola-sparing mastectomy was performed in 26 cases with breast cancer from January 2008 to December 2011 in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital.The postoperative cosmetic results and the complications were observed.The therapeutic effects were followed up.Results All operations were successful.The s,uperior rate of cosmetic result after one month according to JCRT was 88.5 ％ (23/26).No severe complication was found.After a median follow-up of 26 months (range 3-48 months),there was no recurrence and metastasis.Conclusion The immediate breast construction using prosthesi after nipple-areola-sparing mastectomy is maneuverable with satisfactory aesthetic result and the clinical effect,which deserves the further clinical application.

Objective To determine the risk factors and clinical features of mild vascular cognitive impairment due to subcortical small vessel disease (mVCI-SSVD).Methods Detailed demographic data,vascular risk factors, past and present history were collected and carefully neurological examination, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), as well as Hachinski ischemic score (HIS) were performed on 56 mVCI-SSVD patients.Further, the demographic data and vascular risk factors of mVCI-SSVD patients were compared with those of 80 normal control subjects.Results Proportions of smoking (39.3% (22/56)), hypertension (67.9% (38/56)), and diabetes (25.0% (14/56)) were higher in the patient group than in the normal control group (21.3% (17/80) , 47.5% (39/80), 11.3% (9/80)).Odds ratio (2.32(95% CI 1.05-5.13),2.15 (95% CI 1.02-4.54),2.26(95% CI 0.86-5.92)) between the two groups was statistically significant (P value: 0.039, 0.045, 0.047).There was no difference in terms of hyperlipidemia and cardiac disease between groups.Fifty percent (28/56) mVCI-SSVD patients had a clear stroke history.Twenty-six point eight percent (15/56) patients developed the cognitive impairment with an acute onset.Neurological focal signs presented in 20 patients (35.7%).Twenty four (42.9%) patients with HIS ≤ 4 points.Thirty eight cases (67.9%) scored 0 on NIHSS.Conclusions Current study suggested that smoking, hypertension, and diabetes may be risk factors for mVCI-SSVD.While hyperlipidemia and cardiac disease do not increase the risk of mVCI-SSVD.Unlike mVCI caused by large vessel disease, about half mVCI-SSVD patients lack of stroke history.Most patients show a relatively insidious onset and free of significant neurological focal signs.

Objective To investigate the correlation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene variations in the promoter region with the sporadic Alzheimer' s disease (SAD) in Chinese Han population for better understanding the mechanism of SAD. MethodsThe polymorphisms of 279 SAD Chinese Han patients from Northern China were analyzed by comparing with those from 317 healthy individuals using the method of polymeraee chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) or direct sequencing.The commercial statistics package SPSS 11.5 was used to compare the distribution of the allele and the genotype, and to analyze their correlations with SAD. ResultsThree polymorphism sites were found for the VEGF promoters in the Chinese Han sample group including -2578C/A,- 2549I/D and- 1154G/A.- 2549I/D and- 2578C/A exhibiting strong linkage disequilibrium. Individuals with the A allele at position -2578 had an insertion of 18 nucleotides at -2459I/D, whereas CC homozygotes did not contain th es were found between the SAD patients and the controls in the 3 VEGF polymorphisms. After adjusting the data for gender, age and the ApoE ε4 allele using Logistic regression, the - 1154G/G genotype of the VEGF promoter might increase the risk of SAD in Chinese Han population.Among the subgroup without the ApoE ε4 allele, -2549D/-1154G haplotype might increase the risk for SAD (OR = 1.325, 95％ CI 1.023--1.716, P=0.033). ConclusionsThree polymorphism sites ( -2578C/A, -254911D, and -1154G/A) are found in the VEGF promoter regions in Chinese Han population. The-1154G/G genotype of the VEGF promote appears to increase the risk of SAD in Chinese Han population.In the absence of ApoE ε4, the -2549D/-1154G haplotype of the VEGF promoter appears to affect the risk for SAD.

Objective To analyze the status of supply and the affected factors of the home care of the elderly in community of Shenzhen.Methods The investigation was carried out in 78 community health ser-vice centers and 216 elderly from 6 communities using self-designed questionnaire.Results 84% of the el-derly had the demand of home care, 38.1% of them had even received home care services.In 32 demand items of home care, the top 6 were in turn the blood pressure monitoring, the blood sugar monitoring, the health consults, the caregivers guidance, the psychological care, medication instruction.48 of 78 commu-nity health service center provided door-to-door services, 44% of them(home care service center)provided more than 10 projects, 67% of the center provided more than 5 projects, 17% of them provided 2 projects, 30 community health service center did not provide door-to-door service.The main reasons that influenced home care delivery in community were the shortage of nursing staff of home medical care, the risk factors, the medical environment, and the limited health care facilities.Conclusions The elderly has large de-mand to the home care service, home care which the community health center provided is lagging and in short supply.It is imperative to increase the number of community nurses, improve the community home care profession standard and promote stable development of home care.

BACKGROUND:The position of median and radial nerves corresponding to elbow is usual y estimated by macroscopical measurements, but there are big data errors when the elbow is bent. OBJECTIVE:To measure and analyze the impacts of elbows in different positions on median and radial nerves under X-ray. METHODS:Ten fresh frozen upper limb specimens were selected. The distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous marks inside the elbow was measured when the elbow was in extension, extension-half pronation, bent at flexion 90 degrees and bent at 90 degrees with the injection of normal saline into the joint capsule, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The positions of median and radial nerves were not influenced when the elbow was in extension or in extension-half pronation (P>0.05). The distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous mark of the elbow was significantly lengthened when the elbow was moved from from extension to was bent at 90 degrees (P<0.05). The intra-articular injection of normal saline when the elbow flexion 90 degrees significantly elongated the distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous mark of elbow (P<0.05). These results suggest that the elbow in different positions can induce the displacement of median and radial nerves. In addition, the distance between median, radial nerves and the osseous marks of the elbow is obviously lengthened when the elbow is in flexion with intra-articular injection of normal saline.

Objective To observe the serum VEGF/ES ratios before and after operation and at clinical relapse in patients with breast cancer, and to discuss the potential effect of tumor surgery and postoperative relapse on the angiogenesis balance. Methods The serum VEGF and ES levels of 59 cases of breast cancer before and after operation and at clinical relapse were determined using competitive enzyme immunoassays and ELISA, (respectively), and compared with the results of 30 cases of benign breast tumors and 59 cases of normal (controls). Results (1) Preoperatively, the serum ES and VEGF levels of breast cancer patients were (significantly) elevated, as compared to the other 2 groups, and the VEGF/ES ratio was 9.1. Postoperatively, at 3 weeks, VEGF level decreased significantly and ES remained at a high level. The VEGF/ES ratio was (3.3). (2)At the time of clinical relapse, serum VEGF level was followed by marked elevation, and the VEGF/ES ratio increased up to 14.2. Multivariate analyses showed that the postoperative VEGF/ES ratio was an independent factor related to the postoperative recurrence of breast cancer. Conclusions Breast cancer surgery may affect the balance between serum VEGF and ES, and the determination of VEGF/ES ratio can have auxiliary value in the assessment of prognosis of breast cancer patients.