Objective To explore the clinical significance of osteopontin (OPN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its pathogenic role in SLE by studying the correlation between OPN and clinical manifestations,laboratory parameters and disease activity.Methods The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the level of OPN in serum of 68 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls.the clin-ical data and laboratory parameters were recorded.Results The positive rate of OPN was 79.41%in 68 SLEpatients and could not be detected in healthy controls.Compared with healthy controls.the positive rate and level of OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher(P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in age.gender and disease duration between OPN positive and negative lupus patients(P＞0.05).The Drevalence of fever,hair loss,WBC decrease,liver damage,serum C4 decrease,proteinuria and anti-dsDNA antibody in OPN positive SLE were significantly higher than those of OPN negative SLE(P＜0.05).The positive rate of serum OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-Sm antibody (P＜0.01).The level of plasma OPN was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)(r=0.292,P＜0.05).The positive rate and level of OPN in active SLE patients was significantly higher than that of inactive SLE patients(P＜O.05).Conclusion The level of plasma OPN has a close rela-tionship with the activity of SLE.It may serve as an active disease marker of SLE.

Objective To detect the expression of serum soluble E?cadherin(sEC)before and after operation in breast cancer patients,and to ex?plore its clinical significance. Methods The levels of sEC in 42 patients with breast cancer and 18 patients with benign breast diseases were tested by enzyme?linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)before and after operation as well as in 30 healthy controls. Its correlation with clinical and patho?logical characteristics was analyzed. Results The levels of sEC in breast cancer patients before operation were significantly higher than patients with benign breast diseases and controls,which declined significantly after operation. Moreover,the levels of sEC in those with high clinical grading and lymphatic metastasis were also higher than in the ones with low grading and negative lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05). Conclusion The levels of sEC in breast cancer patients before operation are specific and closely related with pathological grade and lymphatic metastasis,which may be a pre?dictive factor for prognosis of breast cancer.

Objective: To explore the effect of apelin on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and intracellular signal transduction mechanism in experimental rats.
Methods: The cardiomyocyte from 1 to 3 days neonatal rats were cultured with Ang II to induce the cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and the cells were treated by apelin at different concentrations. The [3H] Leucine incorporation, cardiomyocyte surface area and total protein expression were analyzed to evaluate the degree of cardiomycyte hypertrophy. The protein expressions of intracellular BNP, β-MHC, nuclear factor 3 of activated T cells (NFATc3), calcineurin, phospho-calcineurin, calmodulin kinase II (CaMK II) and phospho-CaMK II were assessed by Western blot analysis. The mRNA expressions of BNP andβ-MHC were examined by RT-PCR.
Results: Apelin may inhibit Ang II induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic response in a dose-dependent manner, the maximum inhibition was achieved at Ang II 1000 nmol/L. Meanwhile, apelin may inhibit Ang II-induced elevations of intracellular resting free calcium level, mRNA expressions of BNP andβ-MHC, protein expressions of NFATc3, phospho-calcineurin, CaMK II and phospho-CaMK II in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion: Apelin may inhibit Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in experimental rats which might be related to Ca2+-dependent calcineurin signal pass ways.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum ghrelin level and β-cell function after treatment of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods 34 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into three groups of pre-treatment(DM0),two weeks after treatment(DM1)and six months after treatment(DM2).Intravenous glucose tolerance tests(IVGTT)were performed and blood glucose,HbA1C,ghrelin,insulin were measured during the study.Insulin sensitivity was assessed by homeostasis model assessment(HOMA).Results(1)Compared with DM0 group,beta-cell function and the mean AUC of insulin were dramatically improved in groups of DM1 and DM2(all P<0.05).(2)Compared with DM1 and DM2,ghrelin levels and the mean AUC of ghrelin in DM0 groups were lower(all P<0.05).(3)Only positive correlation between ghrelin and HOMA-β(r=0.446,P<0.05),and negative correlations of ghrelin with glucose(r=-0.274,P<0.05),insulin(r=-0.35,P<0.05)and BMI(r=-0.276,P<0.05)were found after six months of treatment.Conclusions Ghrelin might play an important role in the pathogenesis and progress of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To observe the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine plus movement therapy in treating upper limb spasticity in hemiplegic patients. Methods Sixty-six patients were divided randomly into two groups. Thirty-five patients in the therapy group were treated with Chinese herbal medicine and movement therapy, and 31 patients in the control group were treated with movement therapy alone. The modified Ashworth scale and sur- face electromyography were applied to evaluate spasticity. Results The total effectiveness rates were 94.3% in the therapy group and 64.5% in the control group. After treatment, the average integrated electromyogram (IEMG) val- ue in the therapy group was lower than that in the control group. The difference in IEMG values before and after treat- ment in the therapy group was significantly larger than in the control group. Conclusion Chinese herbal medicine plus movement therapy is more effective than movement therapy alone in relieving spasticity.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum ghrelin level and ?-cell function after treatment of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods 34 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into three groups of pre-treatment(DM0),two weeks after treatment(DM1)and six months after treatment(DM2).Intravenous glucose tolerance tests(IVGTT)were performed and blood glucose,HbA1C,ghrelin,insulin were measured during the study.Insulin sensitivity was assessed by homeostasis model assessment(HOMA).Results(1)Compared with DM0 group,beta-cell function and the mean AUC of insulin were dramatically improved in groups of DM1 and DM2(all P

Objective: To study the preventive effect of microecological preparations on enteral nutrition related diarrhea in elderly patients.Methods:Sixty-two eldealy patients with enteral nutrition were divided into treatment group(n=30) and control group(n=32) at random.All patients were fed with Nutrtion Fibre.Treatment group was given with microecological preparations.The incidence rate of diarrhea,and the time to reach standard amount were recorded.Results: The incidence rate of diarrhea in the treatment group was 13.33%,and the incidence rate of diarrhea in the control group was 37.50%(P

By sorting out the action and the application of Astragalus in the main works about Chinese herb during the different historical period, the experience that the physician had applied Astragalus could be known, the whole process that Astragalus had been applied from begin has been understood. Based on that study, its beneficial to reasonably apply Astragalus in the clinical application, further to deeply find and succeed the potential and the loosed action and the applied experience of Astragalus. That study provides the theory foundation for further expanding the applied scope of Astragalus, also presents a kind of train of thought for the research and develop of new Chinese herbs.

Objective To study radiation -induced lung damage after lung ionizing radiation and the temporal and spatial release of pro -inflammatory cytokines of interleukin -6(IL-6),interleukin-8(IL-8) and interleukin-10(IL-10)in the irradiated lung tissue.Methods BALB/C male mice weighted around 25 g were randomly divided into two groups:radiation group ( R) and control group ( C) ,with 30 mice in R group and10 mice in C group.The thorax of mice was irradiated by 6 MV X-ray with 25 Gy in 5 fractions.The mice were sac-rificed at 12 weeks post irradiation.Lung tissues were collected and embedded in paraffin .After HE staining,lung histopathological changes were detected by immunohistochemistry to detect IL -6,IL-8 and IL-10 expression in lung tissue.Results Immunohistochemistry results showed that the expressions of IL -6,IL-8 and IL-10 were mainly expressed in macrophages and inflammatory cells .The results showed that the expressions of IL -6 and IL-8 in R group were significantly higher than that in C group .IL-10 expression level was lower than C group.Conclusion After 12 weeks exposing to radiation ,cytokines of IL-6,IL-8 and IL-10 in lung tissue are associated with radiation -induced lung injury .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of male age on the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 7,533 cycles of IVF-ET performed between January 1, 2009 and October 31, 2013. We divided the samples into three groups according to the female age (< 30, 30-34, and 35-38 yr), each again subdivided into six groups based on the male age (< 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr). We compared the rates of implantation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth among different age groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in basal E2, FSH, endometrium thickness on the day of hCG administration, number of oocytes retrieved, and days of embryo transfer among different male age groups (P > 0.05). The implantation rate showed an age-dependent decrease in the < 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr male groups, 41.1, 42.0, 39.5, 31.3, 40.7, and 48.6% among the women aged < 30 years (P < 0.05), 40.3, 36.4, 35.1, 35.3, 29.4, and 37.3% among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), and 48.2, 17.8, 25.3, 23.5, 22.1, and 23.8% among the women aged 35-38 years (P < 0.05). The miscarriage rate was significantly higher in the ≥ 39 yr than in the 30-32 and 33-35 yr male age groups among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), but showed no remarkable differences among the other male age groups in the women aged < 30 and 35-38 years (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of pregnancy and live birth among different male age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMale age has some influence on the rates of implantation and miscarriage but not on the rates of pregnancy and live birth in IVF-ET.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; epidemiology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors