Focal adhesion kinase is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase with molecular weight 125 ku and regarded as the foundmental molecule of integrin-dependent signal transduction pathway. Active focal adhesion kinase regulates cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation by interacting with Src family kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, cytoskeletal proteins, Graf and adoptor proteins through the phosphorylated tyrosines and the proline-rich sequences.

Objective: To analyze the incidence of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR),post-operation characteristics and operation indications of Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation and giant left ventricle. Methods: The clinical data and the follow-up data of 19 Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation (≥10 ml) and giant left ventricle (LVEDd≥7.0 cm), who were treated from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2007,were analyzed retrospectively. Results: All patients received Bentall operation and there was no perioperation death. Follow-up was 72 patient-year (ranging 3 months-7 years). The degree of FMR decreased obviously after operation, with an improvement rate of 87.5%, and the FMR almost disappeared 6 months to 1 year later. Conclusion: Bentall achieves good outcome in Marfan patients with severe aortic regurgitation and giant left ventricle. Mild to moderate FMR(< 10 ml) disappears with the decrease of the left ventricle size. For patients with severe FMR (≥ 10 ml) complicated with dysfunction of left ventricle, managed ventricular pacing is suggested.

BACKGROUND: Shuangshen oral liquid consisting of renshen and danshen is firstly used to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To establish a rat osteoporosis model through glucocorticoid and to observe the preventive effects of shuangshen oral liquid (SS) on bone substance and bone mass. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A completely randomized controlled grouping animal experiment was performed in the Animal Experimental Center and Department of Pharmacology, Guangdong Medical College from June to September in 2008. MATERIALS: High-dose SS consisted of 3.6 kg danshen, 5 kg renshen, and then prepared by water extraction twice, and the concentration was 870g/L. On this basis, high-dose SS was diluted three times to obtain low-dose SS with a concentration of 290 g/L. The prednisone acetate raw medicine was purchased from Zhejiang Xian Ju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. METHODS: Thirty-two 3-month-old male SPF rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, and every group had 8 rats. The normal control group rats were fed with distilled water 5 mL/(kg?d) by gavage. Rats in prednisone group were treated with 0.7 g/L prednisone suspension (5 mL/kg per day) by gavage. SS group rats were treated with 0.7 g/L prednisone suspension (5 mL/kg per day) by gavage and then given the high does and low does SS (5mL/kg per day) respectively by gavage 3 hours later. The rats were sacrificed by heart hemospasia 88 days later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body mass, bone mineral content and bone hydroxyproline content per unit bone, bone mineral density in the left femur, biomechanics indexes of the right femur. RESULTS: The long-term administration of prednisone restrained the increasing of rats body mass (P

Objective To evaluate immune protective effects of Treponema pallidum(Tp)pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine delivered through different inoculation routes against Tp-induced skin infection in New Zealand rabbits. Methods A total of 108 New Zealand rabbits were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups:A1 and A2 groups treated with intramuscular injection of empty plasmids pcD and pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine respectively for 2 sessions, B1, B2, C1 and C2 groups firstly treated with intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for 1 session for primary immunization, then receiving nasogastric feeding with pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine, pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine+cytosine-phosphate-guanine(CpG)oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), and recombinant Tp92 protein, and recombinant Tp92 protein+CpG ODN respectively for booster immunization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was conducted to detect the serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody at week 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 after immunization, the SIgA level in the nasopharyngeal region and vaginal mucosa at week 8 after immunization, as well as levels of interleukin-2(IL-2)and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)in the culture supernatant of rabbit spleen cells at week 8 after immunization, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay was performed to estimate proliferative activity of rabbit splenic lymphocytes in three rabbits from each group. At week 10 after immunization, other 15 rabbits from each group were subcutaneously inoculated with Tp standard strain, and changes of skin lesions at the inoculation site during early-stage infection were observed and recorded. Results At week 8 after immunization, the C2 group showed significantly higher serum level of anti-Tp92 IgG antibody(1.825 ± 0.175), supernatant levels of IL-2 (154.7 ± 14.6)and IFN-γ(277.4 ± 24.4), and proliferative activity of T cells(3.57 ± 0.24)compared with the A2(1.372 ± 0.322, 112.3 ± 13.4, 232.8 ± 25.3, 3.08 ± 0.22, respectively, all P<0.05), B1(0.893 ± 0.297, 76.6 ± 21.5, 165.7 ± 22.6, 2.12 ± 0.14, respectively, all P<0.05)and B2(1.294 ± 0.124, 97.3 ± 18.7, 211.3 ± 24.6, 2.88 ± 0.18, respectively, all P<0.05)groups. In addition, effective immunoprotection was achieved in the C2 group with more production of mucosa-specific SIgA antibody, as well as the lowest Tp-positive rate (6.67%) and ulcer formation rate (6.67%) in skin lesions at the inoculation sites. Conclusion The effective vaccination strategy, namely intramuscular injection of the pcD/Tp92 DNA vaccine for primary immunization followed by nasogastric feeding with mucosal adjuvant CpG ODN combined with recombinant Tp92 protein for booster immunization, can induce the strongest mucosal immune responses and immune protective effects.

Objective To study the biological effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields(EMFs)on proliferation and extracellular matrix(ECM)formation by annulus fibrosus(AF)cells in rats.Methods AF cells isolated from rats were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group.The cells in the experimental group were stimulated with an EMF,while those in the control group were held under the same culture conditions but with no EMF.Flow cytometry and MTT were performed to observe the effects on the ceU cycle and proliferation.Collagen and aggrecan expression were examined after amplification with a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Sulfated glycosaminoglycan(sGAG)content wag detected by applying the Alcian blue method. Results AF cell proliferation was not significant until after 4 days of stimulation.Compared with the control group,the expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan were up-regulated,and sGAG content Was increased in the experimental group.Conclusion AF cell proliferation was enhanced by EMF.Gene expression of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅱ and Aggrecan increased.a8 well as sGAG levels.The results suggest an approach for treating of intervertebral disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the curative effect of traditional treatment and combination therapy for senile hip fracture.

METHODSUsing prospective methods to choose 300 cases of elderly patients with hip fractures from February 2011 to December 2012, which were randomly divided into comprehensive treatment group and conventional treatment group. After screening, 148 case were in comprehensive treatment group,including 62 males and 86 females with an average age of (78.76 +/- 7.32) years old ranging from 60 to 88; 45 cases were intertrochanteric fracture of femur, 103 cases were fracture of neck of femur; Singh index > or = IV in 74 cases, < IV in 74 cases;preoperative Harris score was 39.90 +/- 2.28. There were 146 cases in conventional treatment group,including 60 males and 86 females with an average age of (80.00 +/- 7.06) years old ranging from 66 to 96; 50 cases were intertrochanteric fracture of femur, 96 cases were fracture of neck of femur; Singh index > or = IV in 75 cases, < IV in 71 cases; preoperative Harris score was 40.10 +/- 2.81. Preoperative general situation,leaving bed time and hospital stay, the incidence of postoperative 12 weeks Singh index > or = IV and DPD/Cr value, Harris score at 12 months after operation and the incidence of fracture again of two groups were observed and compared.

RESULTSIn comprehensive treatment group 140 patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an anverage of 14.80 +/- 1.85. In conventional treatment group 132 patients were followed up for 12 to 14 months with an average of 12.75 +/- 0.79. There were no significant differences in age, gender, the classification of fracture, preoperative Harris hip score, preoperative Singh index > or = IV level and DPD/Cr value between the two groups (P > 0.05). Comprehensive treatment group had shorter leaving bed time and hospital stay, smaller postoperative 12 weeks DPD/Cr value and higher postoperative Harris score, higher incidence of postoperative 12 weeks Singh index > or = IV level, lower incidence of fracture again than conventional treatment group, there was statistically significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the anti-osteoporosis effect, the comprehensive treatment group has more advantage than traditional treatment group in elderly hip fracture, which can further improve the elderly hip fracture treatment and provide the reference of evidence-based medicine cooperate with rehabilitation department.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Prospective Studies

Objective To examine the effects and mechanisms of simvastatin and fenofibrate, and combination of the two drugs on the expression of apolipoprotein M (apoM). Methods The male C57BL/6N mice ( n =32) were random divided into four groups, including control group (with no special treatment), statin group (with simvastatin [10mg/( kg · d) for 4 weeks], fibrate group (with fenofibrate [100mg/( kg · d) for 4 weeks] and combination group ( with simvastatin [10mg/( kg· d)] and fenofibrate [100mg/( kg · d) for 4 weeks]. The levels of apoMmRNA and protein, hepatic nuclear factor (HNF-1α)mRNA, liver X receptor-α (LXRα) mRNA in mouse liver were measured. Results Both of simvastatin and fenofibrate can increase the expression of apolipoprotein M ( 1.97 ± 0. 04,2. 02 ± 0. 02 ) and HNF-1αmRNA ( 1.74 ± 0. 05,1.71 ± 0. 04). Combination group obtained more effects than either single agent ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Simvastatin could decrease the expression of LXRα mRNA ( 1.00 ± 0. 02 ) ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Fenofibrate could increase the expression of LXRα mRNA(2. 80 ±0. 04) ( P ＜0. 05). No significant difference in LXRα expression was seen between combination( 1.56 ±0. 03 ) and control group( 1.53 ±0. 03 )( P ＞0. 05). Conclusions Simvastatin and fenofibrate can increase apoM expression. Treatment with combination of the two drugs is more effective, and the mechanism might be related to the regulation of HNF-1α and LXRα.

Forms and Records Control ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods

Objective To investigate the relationship between the serum ferritin levels and disease activity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods One hundred and forty-six patients with SLE and 65 healthy volunteers were involved.Serum ferritin,C-reactive protein (CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (dsDNA) were measured in two groups.The activity of SLE was evaluated by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score.The data were recorded and analyzed.SPSS 19.0.statistical software was used in statistical analysis.Analysis of variance was employed in comparison between groups using,t test was used in further pairwise comparisons,Pearson correlation test was adopted to evaluate the correlation between two groups.Results The level of serum ferritin in patients with SLE group was significantly higher than that of control group (505.4 ±408.9) ng/ml and (72.4 ±42.8) ng/ml,respectively,t =6.67,P ＜0.01.57.5％ (84/146) patients with SLE had elevated serum ferritin.Patients with high SLEDAI scores had significantly higher ferritin concentrations than other patients (807.6 ± 412.3) ng/ml and (96.0 ± 44.7) ng/ml,t =6.56,P ＜0.01.The levels of serum ferritin in SLE patients were positively correlated with SLEDAI score and serum CRP (r =0.396,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.351,P ＜ 0.01),and it was not related with ESR or dsDNA (r =0.111,P=0.09;r =0.078,P =0.23).Conclusion The level of serum ferritin could reflect the disease activity of patients with SLE,and it might be used as a new biomarker for disease activity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective To evaluate the serum concentrations of estradiol and testosterone in hyperuricemia patients and possible correlations of the two factors and uric acid (UA) in hyperuricemia (HUA) patients.Methods This was a case control study.We involved 90 hyperuricemia patients,103 healthy controls.Estradiol,testosterone,UA,serum glucose,lipid profile,creatinine and body mass index (BMI) were estimated in two groups.The statistical analysis of the data were performed using SPSS version 19.0 software.The estradiol,testosterone,UA,serum glucose,lipid profile,serum creatinine and BMI levels between the two groups were compared using the Student's t-test.Pearson correlation test was used to assess the correlation between serum UA levels and these indexes.Results Serum levels of estradiol in healthy subjects and hyperuricemia patients were 82.2 (55.6-108.8) pmol/L,65.8 (36.6-95.0) pmol/L respectively ;the serum levels of UA were 300.8(207.2-394.4) μmol/L,426.9(370.1-483.7) μmol/L,respectively.The levels of estradiol were higher in the healthy control group than those in the hyperuricemia group.There were significant differences of estradiol levels between these two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Estradiol was negatively correlated with UA (r =-0.319,P ＜ 0.01),so was testosterone (r =-0.312,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that in hyperuricemia patients,there are associations between estradiol and UA and the levels of serum estradiol might be used as biomarkers in hyperuricemia.