Objective To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of lyophilized royal jelly ( LRJ) on immunoglobulin IgG,IgA,IgM and complement C3 and C4 in patients with low immunity ,and to evaluate the clinical efficacy of LRJ.Methods A self-controlled clinical study of immunomodulatory efficacy of LRJ was performed in 32 patients with low immunity.Every patient took orally LRJ,two times a day.The hepatic function AST,ALT,and immunoglobulin IgG,IgA,IgM and complement C3,C4 were assayed after treatment for 28 days,and then the efficacy and safety of LRJ were evaluated.Results After took orally LRJ,the levels of IgG,IgA,and IgM [(10.31 ±2.03)g/L, (1.69 ±0.55)g/L,(1.51 ±0.55)g/L] were significantly higher than those before treatment [(8.52 ±1.94)g/L, (1.38 ±0.57)g/L,(1.36 ±0.55)g/L](t=5.21,2.25,1.56,all P<0.05),and the levels of C3 and C4 after treatment were significantly higher than before treatment [(0.93 ±0.15) g/L,(0.30 ±0.07) g/L vs (0.83 ± 0.12)g/L,(0.26 ±0.08)g/L] (t=1.94,1.78,all P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences in the levels of AST and ALT before[(38.17 ±12.84)U/L,(32.63 ±12.81)U/L] and after [(36.13 ±11.47)U/L, (31.83 ±12.36)U/L] treatment (t=0.82,0.44,all P>0.05).Conclusion LRJ can increase the levels of immu-noglobulin IgG,IgA and IgM,thus to improve the symptoms of patients with low immunity .

The effect of high fat diet on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline from controlled release aminophylline tablets has been observed in six healthy volunteers. The drug was administrated in single oral doses (400mg)after an overnight fast or immediately after the consumption of a high fat breakfast in an autocontrol study. Serum theophylline levels were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The absorption of theophylline was markedly delayed by high fat diet with significant difference in I_(max) (3.53?0.44h vs 6.54?2.08h, p

Objective To explore medium-term,long-term efficacy of collagenase injected to target site by CT-guided in treatment for lumbar disc herniation. Methods 50 patients with lumbar disc protrusion were treated with CT-guided percutaneous injection of collagenase accurately reaching prominence(target site). Results All patients were followed up 36 to 60 months. The total effective rate was 82.97% (more than 36 months)and82.23%(more than 60 months). Conclusion Grasping indications well, CT-guided percutaneous injection of collagenase target site in treatment of lumbar disc herniation was accurate, safe, simple, effective, and was the preferred treatment for such patients.

Objective To assess the efficacy of Ezscan in evaluating the risk of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in diabetes. Methods This study included 144 patients with diabetes. Their serum lipid profile and HbA1c were determined. The heart rate variability was assessed by Holter, and the cardiac autonomic neuropathy by classic experiments. Meanwhile, Ezscan was carried out. Results There was a positive correlation between low frequency (LF) measurements by Holter and Ezscan score( r=0. 39, P＜0. 01 ), so did LF/HF and Ezscan score( r=0. 28, P＜0. 01 ). Correlations between Ezscan score and other Holter parameters were weaker. There was no correlation between HbA1c and LF measurements. In patients with positive classic experiments, the sensitivity and specificity of Ezscan were 58. 3% and 57.8% respectively. Conclusions Ezscan test is a valuable screening procedure for detecting diabetic complications. It is more facilitative and takes shorter time than does the classical autonomic function assessment.

AIM: To verify and localize the expression of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) in pancreas of streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic monkeys and understand its important role in ?-cell destruction in the pathogenesis of diabetes. METHODS: Through an olig-microarray gene chip, NNMT was identified as the most obviously up-regulated genes in pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic monkeys versus controls. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were performed to verify the differential expression at mRNA and protein level respectively. Then the cellular localization of NNMT expression within pancreas was identified by immunohistochemical(IHC) staining.RESULTS: An obvious high expression of NNMT at both mRNA and protein levels was shown in pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic monkeys compared to that of controls. Further localization of the protein by IHC staining in pancreas specimens showed that its altered expression was restricted to central islets, most of which were ? cells.CONCLUSION: Expression of NNMT is increased in islets of STZ- induced diabetic monkeys, which infers that NNMT might participate in the process of ? cell damage in diabetes probably through the mechanism of energy metabolism disturbance.

Objective To investigate the impact of glucose metabolism-related protein 1 (GMRP1) on the regulation of c-Myc gene transcription, to establish GMRP1 gene knockout mouse model, and to study the influence of GMRP1 on glucose metabolism. Methods Chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR (ChIP-PCR) was utilized to screen out the genes transcriptionally regulated by GMRP1. Luciferase reporter system was applied to assay the regulation of c-Myc promoter activity by GMRP1. GMRP1 knockout mice were constructed and validated by PCR and western blotting. Body weight and random blood glucose were measured in both knockout and wild type mice fed with either chow diet or high-fat diet. The levels of glucose metabolism in mice of 20 or 28 weeks old were evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. Results GMRP1 was capable of binding to the promoter of c-Myc gene and activating the expression of c-Myc gene. There were no significant differences in body weight, random blood glucose or glucose tolerance between GMRP1-deficient and wild type mice fed with either chow diet or high-fat diet (all P > 0.05). Conclusion GMRP1 may activate the transcription of c-Myc gene. GMRP1 deficiency exerted no significant effects on mouse glucose metabolism.

Objective To investigate the correlation between vibration perception thresholds test (VPT) and simple screening tests for peripheral neuropathy in the diabetes clinic in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods VPT and three simple screening tests including 10 g Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork, and temperature sensation test by Tip-Therm were completed in 487 Chinese patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes aged over 30. The relationships between these simple screening tests and VPT were evaluated by Spearman correlation and observed agreement rate. Results Abnormal VPT was significantly associated with aging and fasting plasma glucose by binary logistic regression analysis. VPT was significantly correlated with SWME, temperature sensation test, vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork, and the correlation coefficient was 0.176, 0.152 and 0.240, respectively (P<0.01);Observed agreement between VPT and three simple screening tests including SWME, temperature sensation test, vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork was 49.5%, 59.8% and 51.1%, respectively. The percentage of abnormal results by SWME or vibration test by 128 Hz tuning fork with normal result by VPT was very low, only 2.7% and 1.2% respectively. Conclusions VPT should also be considered as a first-choice screening test for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum lipocalin-2 level and the risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:A total of 279 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. Basic information and clinical data were collected. These patients were divided into CVD group and non-CVD group according to their cardiovascular disease status. Serum lipocalin-2 level was assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Compared to non-CVD group, serum lipocalin-2 level was significantly higher in CVD group( P<0.01). The Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum lipocalin-2 level was positively correlated with waist circumstance, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid, triglyceride, and HbA 1C( P<0.05), while negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level( P<0.01). In addition, the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that serum lipocalin-2 was an independent risk factor for CVD( P<0.01)after adjustment for potential confounders. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the area under curve value of lipocalin-2 was 0.74, with the optimal cutoff value of lipocalin-2 66.84 ng/mL. Conclusion:Serum lipocalin-2 is closely associated with CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes, which might be considered as one of the predictors for CVD in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM:To study the effect of astragalus polysaccharides(Aps)on cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.METHODS:After exposed to Aps at different doses,cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 protein levels in cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells were determined by a ? counter and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS:Aps increased cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells with dose dependent pattern and resulted in an increase in the expression of ABCA1 protein in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells.CONCLUSION:The increase in cholesterol efflux by Aps might be related to the up-regulation of ABCA1.

Objective To observe the effect of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL) on the expression of adipophilin and the effect of adipophilin on AcLDL uptake and lipid accumulation in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs)in order to approach the role played by adipophilin in genesis of macroangiopathy. Methodse HVSMCs were treated with various amount of AcLDL. Adipophilin expression levels were detected by Northern blot and Western blot. The effects of adipophilin on AcLDL uptake and lipid accumulation in HVSMCs were observed by the methods of siRNA, flow cytometry, enzymatic method and oil red stain. Results AcLDL dose-dependently increased adipophilin expression in HVSMCs. Silence adipophilin by siRNA decreased AcLDL uptake (decreasing by 38.7%, P<0. 05) and lipids accumulation (tfiglyceride and total cholesterol decreasing by 30.6% and 29.8% respectively, both P<0. 01) in HVSMCs, Conclusion Adipophilin is able to increase AcLDL uptake and lipid accumulation in HVSMCs, suggesting that it might play a role in enhancing atherosclerosis.