AIM: To explore the effects of advanced gly cosyla tion end products (AGEs) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA expressi on and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in cultured rat renal mesangial cel ls. METHODS: Rat renal mesangial cells were cultured in vitro un der standard conditions. The content of fibronectin (FN) and type Ⅳ collagen (ColⅣ ) were determined with ELISA after stimulation by AGE-BSA and BSA, respectively. CTGF mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: CTGF mRNA was significantly increased by AGE-BSA in cul tured mesangial cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner compared with BSA cont rol (P

Objective To analyse correlated risk factors of evolving cerebral infarction(ECI).Methods The follow data was recorded in the acute cerebral infarction (ACI)cases when they were admitted :sex,age,systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),history of disease (diabetes mellitus,hypertension,hyperlipidaemia,cerebral infarction,hyperuricemia or smoking).The following examinations or determinations were done,including:white blood cell count (WBC),platelet count (PLT),blood gluconate(GLU),PT-INR,fibrinogen(FG),TT-INR,APTT-INR,C-reactive protein(CRP),D-dimer(D-D),products of fibrin degradation(FDP),anti-thrombin Ⅲ(ATⅢ),apolipoprotein A(apoA),apolipoprotein B(apoB),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(CR),triglyceride (TG),high density lipoprotein (HDL),low density lipoprotein (LDL),very low density lipoprotein (VLDL),GOT,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine phosphokinase (CPK),MB isoforms of creatine phosphokinase (CPK-MB),? hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (?-HBDH),troponin I(TnI),cerebral CT or MRI and carotid ultrasonography.The patients were divided into two groups,ECI and completed cerebral infarction (CCI),according whether neurons function scale deteriorated.When cases of both groups exceeded 50,we took statistic test by SPSS10.0 statistic software.Results 8 of the above 46 markers had significant defference between the two groups,including CRP,WBC,apoB,GLU,LDH,CPK-MB,?-HBDH and DBP.ECI was more common in patients who had lower DBP or higher CRP,WBC,apoB,GLU,LDH,CPK-MB,?-HBDH when they were admitted.Conclusion The increase of CRP,WBC,apoB,GLU,LDH,CPK-MB,?-HBDH or decrease of DBP when patients are admitted can be predictive markers of ECI.

To investigate the short term anti HBV efficacy of foscarnet sodium, sixty seven patients with various types of chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (47 cases) was assigned to receive foscarnet sodium 3 0g by intravenous infusion twice daily in addition to general liver protective medicine for 15 days. The control group (20 cases) was treated with regular liver protective medicine only. The quantity of HBV DNA was measured with equivalent competitive PCR combining with DNA hybridization quantitative detection technique before and after treatment (once a week). The HBV markers and liver functions were also tested before and after treatment. In antiviral therapy group, the patients with different types of hepatitis B had their liver functions improved. HBV DNA in 13 patients became negative by PCR. Two of HBeAg positive patients became sero converted. Foscarnet sodium can inhibit HBV efficiently and quickly. The replication of HBV DNA can be greatly suppressed in the first week but without significant change in the second week in some cases. Foscarnet can be one of the drugs of choice in a combined therapy or as the initial drug in a sequential therapeutic regime.

Objective To study the effect of the complexus of radix salviae miltiorrhizae and lignstrazin (DCs) on the learning and memory impairment in Alzheimer disease rats. Methods Rats were randomly divided in- to 5 groups(10 rats/group):normal eontrol group, Alzheimer disease model group toxified with AlCl3 and D-gal,3 groups toxified with AICl3 and D-gal,whieh were treated with the different drugs including piracetam and DCs1,2. After 80 days,step-through and morris water maze experiments were used to detect the learning and memory ability. Results Compared with Alzheimer disease model group,DCs obviously improved the learing and memory ability of Alzheimer disease rats,it is increased significantly that active reaction, and the number of active avoidance, improve achievement, evasion failed to reduce the number of passive evade significantly shorten the delay time in Des-treated group. Conclusion DCs markedly improved the learing and memory ability of Alzheimer disease rats.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of the DJ-1 mutation in early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) patients,and analyzed the association between the certain polymorphic marker g.168_185del in intron1 and Parkinson' s disease (PD).Methods We screened all 7 exons and exon-intron boundary regions of DJ-1 by PCR and direct nucleotide sequencing in 90 Chinese patients with EOPD.We also compared the allele and genotype frequencies of the g.168_185del polymorphism between EOPD patients and controls.Results We found no causative DJ-1 mutations in our cohort of Chinese EOPD patients.But we did identified 4 known polymorphic variants,including the g.168_185del in intron 1,g.5027G ＞ A (rs17523802),g.5065T ＞ C (rs226249),and g.5094C ＞ T (rs11121064) within exon 1.Del/Ins frequencies of the g.168_185 del polymorphism were 11.1％ (10/90)and 13.3％ (14/105) in EOPD group and normal group,respectively.Ins/Ins frequencies were 88.9％ (80/90) and 86.7％ (91/105),thex2 and P value of genotype frequency were 0.222 and 0.669 between EOPD patients and controls,respectively.The insert frequencies were 94.4％ (170/180)and 93.3％ (196/210) in EOPD patients and controls,the deletion frequencies were 5.6％ (10/180) and 6.7％ (14/210),thex2 and P value of allele frequency were 0.207 and 0.679 between EOPD patients and normal,respectively.Furthermore,the P value of genotype and allele frequencies were 0.736 and 0.744 between familial EOPD patients and controls,respectively;P values of genotype and allele frequencies were 0.847 and 0.852 between sporadic EOPD patients and control group,respectively.There was no statistical difference between groups.Conclusion Mutations in DJ-1 are uncommon in Chinese EOPD patients,and no association is observed between the DJ-1 intron 1 g.168_185del polymorphism and risk of PD.

Objective To determine the methylation status and expression of Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A), and the possible effect between promoter aberrant methylation and pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Methods The methylation status of RASSF1A promoter CpG island (CGI) pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 was detected in 5 cases of normal pancreatic tissue and 13 pairs of pancreatic cancer tissues (tumor and peri-tumor) by using COBRA (combined bisulfite restriction analysis) and the methylation rate was calculated. The RASSF1A mRNA expression of BxPC3 was compared between pre- and post-treatment of the inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase (5-Aza-2-deoxycitydine, 5-Aza-dC). Results The average methylation rate of RASSF1A promoter CGI was 62.90% in BXPC3, 9.14% in normal pancreas, 53.79% in peri-tumors (TP), and 55.82% in tumors. The methylation rates in port-tumors and tumors were significantly increased when compared with that of normal pancreas (P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference between in peri-tumors and tumors (P > 0.05). After 5-Aza-dC treatting BxPC3 cells, the methylation rates decreased to 42.5% (P < 0. 05) and RASSF1A mRNA expression was enhanced. Conclusions Aberrant hypermethylation of RASSF1A promoter CGI could be considered as an early event in the process of pancreatic cancer and participates in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To explore the possibility of anterior open reduction and internal fixation to treat the lower cervical irreducible dislocation. Methods 15 cases of lower cervical irreducible dislocation were treated by the anterior open reduction and internal fixation, 11 cases were male and 4 cases were female, 10 cases were unilateral facet locked and 5 eases were bilateral facet locked which were confirmed by the MRI and CT scan. All the cases were failed to the skull traction before operation and received anterior open reduction and plate fixation, and interver-tebral fusion. All the cases were followed up, the recovery of neurological function and the fusion rate were evaluated. Results 15 cases were completely reduction and none of them got a worse neurological function. Conclusion The treatment effect of anterior open reduction and fixation for the lower cervical irreducible dislocation were good.

Objective To analyze the clinical presentations and radiological characteristics of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Methods Clinical and radiological data of 2 patients with acute exacerbation of IPF from April 2006 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed and literatures were reviewed.Results Both patients were senior male patients over 60 years old.Dyspnea, cough and inspiratory crackles were the major symptoms and signs.Two patients were experiencing an exacerbation of dyspnea for one week and half of month,respectively.PaO2/FiO2 of both patients was less than 225 mm Hg.In both patients, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans at the exacerbation showed typical signs of IPF including peripheral predominant, basal predominant reticular abnormality, with honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis and bronchiolectasis,and newly developing alveolar opacity.HRCT scan showed peripheral area of ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing in one patient,and diffusely distributed ground-glass opacity in another patient.Two patients had received cortieosteroid treatment.For one patient, the symptoms improved, and ground-glass attenuation adjacent to subpleural honeycombing had almostly resolved.The other patient died of respiratory failure.Conclusions Some acute exacerbation in idiopatic pulmonary fibrosis can be idiopathic.The chnical presentations mainly include the worsening of dyspnea within short time.HRCT generally demonstrates new bilateral ground-glass abnormality with or without areas of consolidation, superimposed on typical changes of IPF.

Objective To review the epidemiologic features of norovirus infection outbreaks in Zhejiang province during 2004-2014.Methods Epidemiological data of norovirus infection outbreaks in Zhejiang province from January 2004 to February 2014 were collected from the Emergency Public Reporting System in Zhejiang Provincial CDC.The distribution of time,area,population,route of transmission and genotype of norovirus were analyzed.Results There were 16 outbreaks of norovirus infections with 2 037 cases during 2004-2014 in Zhejiang province.Eleven outbreaks occurred during February and April,and 13 outbreaks occurred in schools.The outbreaks in schools mainly involved students aged 15-20 years,while other outbreaks took place mainly in the young and middle-aged population.The sex ratio of male to female was 1.05 ∶ 1.Among 16 outbreaks,10 were induced by norovirus G Ⅱ infections,3 were induced by norovirus G Ⅰ infections and 3 were induced by norovirus G Ⅰ and G Ⅱ infections.Fourteen outbreaks were caused by water pollution.Conclusion Outbreak of norovirus infection usually occurs in schools during winter and spring in Zhejiang province,and the epidemic of disease is mainly associated with polluted water.

Objective To investigate the postnatal developmental rule of TrkA and ChAT\|immunoreactive(ChAT\|ir) neurons and the relationship between TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons in the horizontal limb of diagonal band(HDB) of rats. Methods Immunohistochemistry technique combined with image analyser were used. Results TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons localized in the neurons of basal forebrain of rats. TrkA immunostaining was present at postnatal day 1(PD1), but ChAT immunostaining was present at PD5 Most densely stained TrkA and ChAT neuronal bodies and fibers were present at PD20, while the mean grey degrees of TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons reached to the peak. Both TrkA and ChAT began to decline at PD30 and maintain a relatively higher level in the adult. However, during aging both TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons atrophied and became smaller than that of adult. The number of TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons decreased 39 8% and 33 3%;the mean areas 15 7% and 12 8%; the mean grey degree values were 29 9% and 9 9%, respectively. The mean areas, grey degrees and numbers of TrkA and ChAT\|ir neurons from PD5 to aged rats had positive correlation. Conclusion The results indicate that the expression of TrkA was earlier than ChAT. The expression of TrkA and ChAT followed a very similar temporal pattern in HDB from PD5 to aged rats, suggesting that TrkA may participate in the regulation of ChAT\|ir neuronal development, differentiation, maturation and aging. The down\|regulation of TrkA and ChAT of aged rats is associated with neuronal atrophy and loss and may contribute to the pronounced vulnerability of these neurons to degeneration in aging animals and Alzheimer disease.\;