The metabolic syndrome is a complex disorder of several metabolic abnormalities,which represents a risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases.Insulin resistance seems to play a significant role in pathoyenesis of metabolic syndrome.Many issues concerning definition,pathophysiology and optimal treatment of metabolic syndrome are reviewed in this article.

Scoliosis surgery includes fusion and non-fusion techniques.Fusion technique includes posterior fusion technique and video-assisted anterior thoracoscopic fusion.Non-fusion technique is suitable for children patients with growing potential of the spine.It includes growing rod,vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib(VEPTR),U-shape screw,and multi-vertebral wedged osteotomy(for severely rigid scoliosis).Short term outcome from these techniques has been encouraging,but medium and long term outcomes are still need investigation.

Objective: To prepare exenatide-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolicacid)(PLGA) microspheres and to evaluate their release behavior in vitro. Methods: Exenatide-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared by W/O/O method using PLGA as vectors. An HPLC approach was established to determine the content and in vitro cumulative release. The physicochemical characteristics of microspheres, including the mean diameter, morphology, drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency, were evaluated. Results: The prepared microspheres were well-shaped, with a mean diameter of (51.2±1.97) μm. The drug loading was (4.50±0.13)% and the encapsulation efficiency was (96.5±2.68)%. The first day burst release was (13.19 ± 1.39)% and the in vitro 28-day-cumulative-release was (88.6 ± 0.73)%. Conclusion: The W/O/O method is stable, controllable, and repeatable for preparing exenatide-loaded microspheres using biodegradable polymers PLGA as the vector; the microspheres yield a one-month continuous release and have a bright future in treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3, NLRP3) inflammasomes regulate the secretion of caspase-1, interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-1β, and other cytokines, and participates in aging. In recent years, it has been found that NLRP3 inflammasomes are abnormally activated in aging heart and vessels, and inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasomes can alleviate heart aging and vascular aging. This review summarizes the research of NLRP3 inflammasome in heart and vascular aging, and the related drugs to promote the discovery of the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in heart and vascular aging and the development of related drugs.

E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) is a major member of the E2F transcription factor family and participates in a wide range of physiological regulatory processes, such as cell cycle, survival, apoptosis, and metabolism. It is proved that the activity of E2F1 is related to the G1/S phase regulation of the cell cycle dependent on tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB). Recent studies have shown that E2F1 is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, manifested as an oncogene, and its expression level is closely related to the occurrence, development, and poor clinical prognosis of prostate cancer. Androgen receptor (AR) is the main driving factor for the growth and progression of prostate cancer, and the changes of AR pathway play a key role in the pathological progression of prostate cancer. This article provide a systematic and comprehensive summary on recently published articles to review the role of the E2F1 pathway in prostate cancer.

V-P and MR tests were done at the same time using white porcelain board.The results showed that the white porcelain method was simple and convenient compared to the traditional method.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of FPSA/PSA ratio in the differential diagnosis of prostate carcinoma(Pca) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Methods The concentrations of FPSA and PSA in 52 patients with Pca or BPH were analysed retrospectively to calculate FPSA/PSA ratio. Results FPSA/PSA ratio between the Pca and BPH was markedly different (t=4 01,P

Objective To compare the anti-hemorrhage effect and safety of hemocoagulase and epinephrine (1∶10 000) during endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or polyps electrocautery. Methods Between April and November 2007,totally 60 patients received EMR or endoscopic piecemeal mucosal resection (EPMR) in our hospital because of local lesions in the esophagus,stomach or colon. The patients were randomly divided into hemocoagulase and epinephrine groups (30 cases in each) before receiving the operation. After the resection,the hemorrhage at the surgical area was measured. During the operation,the blood pressure,heart rate,and adverse effects including palpitation,dizziness,pain,and nausea were recorded. Results Immediate hemorrhage was detected in 1 case of hemocoagulase group (1/30,3%),and 6 cases of epinephrine group (6/30,20%,?2=2.588,P=0.108). No hemorrhage was observed at 24 hours in both the groups. No significantly difference was noticed in the injection volume between the two groups [(11.0?6.0) ml (5-30 ml) in hemocoagulase group vs. (11.9?7.0) ml (5-28 ml); t=-0.535,P=0.595]. In epinephrine group,the mean artery blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly after the injection [(96.9?7.9) mm Hg vs. (99.9?8.1) mm Hg,t=-3.005,P=0.005; 79.8?7.9/min vs. 84.3?8.1/min,t=-3.585,P=0.001]. Whereas,no such differences were noticed in hemocoagulase group. Five cases in epinephrine group showed transient dizziness and palpitation,and 2 patients who had esophageal lesions complained of pain at the injection site. None of the hemocoagulase group had postoperative complications. Conclusions Hemocoagulase shows same anti-hemorrhage effect as epinephrine during EMR without leading to adverse effect.

Objective To investigate the effects of Arctigenin ( ATG ) on concanavalin ( ConA )-stimulated cell proliferation and cytokine secretion in mouse spleen cells, and its possible mechanism. Methods The toxicity of ATG on mouse spleen cells was determined by MTT assay. The inhibition of proliferation was investigated by tritiat-ed thymidine incorporation method. Secreted cytokines (IFN-γand IL-2) were analyzed by ELISA. The associated proteins and phosphorylation levels of mTOR pathway ( mTOR/P70 S6 K/Akt/AMPK/Raptor ) were detected by Western blot. Results ATG had no significant toxicity to mouse spleen cells. ATG significantly inhibited mouse primary spleen cells proliferation induced by ConA. ATG suppressed IL-2 and IFN-γ production of mouse spleen cells in a concentration-dependent manner. ATG remarkably suppressed the phosphorylation of mTOR and P70S6K, and enhanced the phosphorylation of upstream AMPK and Raptor, while the phosphorylation of Akt did not change significantly. Conclusion ATG markedly suppresses the proliferation of mouse spleen stimulated by ConA cells and secretion of IFN-γand IL-2 , which may be correlated to the abilities of enhancing the phosphoryla-tion of AMPK and Raptor, inhibiting the phosphorylation of mTOR and P70S6K.

Objective To observe whether peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can induce the adhesion of T lymphocytes to endothelial cells. Methods Sera and PBMCs were obtained from patients with active SLE and normal human controls. PBMCs were cultivated and culture supematants were harvested. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro with or without the presence of the sera or culture super-natants of PBMCs. Some cells were pretreated with the antibody to IL-17 before the treatment with the sera or supematants. After another 48-hour culture, RT-PCR and real-time PCR were used to detect the mRNA expressions of adhesion molecules, including intercellular adhesion moleeule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-cadherin in HUVECs, wound healing assay to estimate the motility of HUVECs. Additionally, T lymphocytes were added to HUVECs 48 hours after stimulation with the sera or supematants, the adhering of T lymphocytes to HUVECs was observed by microscopy. Results After stimulation with supematants of PBMCs from patients with active SLE, the mRNA expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-cadherin were significantly increased in HUVEC, while the increase could be inhibited by the antibody to IL-17. The elevation of adhesion molecule expression subsequently promoted the motility of HUVEC, mediated the adhesion of T lymphocytes to HUVEC, and the antibody to IL-17 could suppress the adhesion of T lymphocytes and motility of HUVEC. Conclusion The culture supematants of PBMCs from patients with active SLE can induce the expression of vascular cell adherin molecules and promote the adherin of T lymphocytes, which may in turn mediate the development of lupus vasculitis.