Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with resveratrol for 12 weeks.Compared with group of diabetic rats without treatment,the levels of urine albumin,serum creatinine,and blood urea nitrogen were significantly decreased and pathological changes in kidney were improved in treatment group ( P＜0.05 ).The mRNA expressions of FoxO1 and catalase were higher and FoxO1 phosphorylation level in diabetic rats treated with resveratrol was lower than that in diabetic rats without treatment (P＜0.05),suggesting that resveratrol may protect the kidneys of diabetic rats via regulating expression of FoxO1.

Objective To evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25 (OH) D3],parathyroid hormone,and arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods Serum 25 (OH) D3 and parathyroid hormone(PTH) were determined in a cross-sectional sample of 258 patients aged 30 years and over.Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse wave velocity(PWV) obtained with a VP-1000 pulse wave unit.Fasting plasma HbA1c,lipid profile,calcium,and high sensitive-C reactive protein were determined.Results (1)The prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency was high(79.84％) in patients with type 2 diabetes.(2) Those with lowered serum vitamin D3 levels had raised PWV [(1610.76 ± 142.70 vs 1527.95 ± 58.02) cm/s,P＜0.05].(3) Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that 25 (OH) D3 was an impact factor of PWV risk score,which was independent of age,duration of diabetes,and systolic blood pressure(β =-0.256,P＜0.01).(4) Serum PTH was positively correlated with PWV (r =0.210,P ＜ 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (r =0.229,P ＜ 0.05),but negatively correlated with 25 (OH) D3 (r =-0.153,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions 25 (OH) D3 deficiency is common in patients with type 2diabetes,and a low serum 25 (OH) D3 level is significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness in these patients.The association of serum PTH with arterial stiffness may result via changes in vitamin D and blood pressure.

Objective To investigate the prediction value of ultrasound endometrial pattern at the day of hCG administration on clinical outcome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Methods 679 cycles of IVF-ET conducted between January 2011 and December 2012 in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.All cycles were divided into three groups based on the endometrial pattern measured on the hCG day:group A (n =411) with triple line endometrium,group B (n =228) with no obvious triple line endometrium,group C (n =40) with homogeneous hyperechoic endometrium.Clinical outcomes such as implantation rate,pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate were analyzed.Results Among three groups,the implantation rates were 27.05％,20.33％,19.57％,respectively (x2 =9.04,P =0.01); the pregnancy rates were 34.31％,25.00％,12.50％,respectively (x2 =12.20,P =0.00).The implantation rate and pregnancy rate in group A were higher than the other two groups (P ＜0.05).The miscarriage rates were 16.31％,19.30％,40.00％,respectively(P ＞ 0.05),there were no significant difference among them.Conclusions The ultrasound endometrium pattern on the day of hCG administration has predictive value on clinical outcome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of forkhead transcriptionfactor O1( FoxO1) on proliferation of rat mesangial cells(MCs) cultured under high glucose conditions. Methods Constructing lentiviral vectors of LV-CA-FoxO1 and LV-siRNA-FoxO1 were used to upregulate or downregulate FoxO1. Moreover, negative control LV-NC-FoxO1 was also constructed. Rat MCs were separately cultured in normal glucose(5. 6 mmol/ L, NG group), only high glucose(30 mmol/ L, HG0 group), LV-NC-FoxO1 with HG(HG1 group),LV-CA-FoxO1 with HG (HG2 group), and LV-siRNA-FoxO1 with HG(HG3 group) for 72 h. MTT assay and flow cytometrywas were used to analyze cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution. The expression of FoxO1, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p27), cyclinD1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 4( CDK4) were detected by QRT-PCR and Western blot. Results The MCs proliferation rate in HG0 group was faster than that in NG group. Besides, there were no statistical differences in FoxO1 expression and proliferation rate of MCs between HG0 group and HG1 group. Nevertheless, LV-CA-FoxO1 promoted cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase and attenuated proliferation rate, along with upregulation of FoxO1 and p27 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in HG2 group ( all P < 0. 05). Moreover, degradation of FoxO1 by LV-siRNA-FoxO1 stimulated hyperproliferation of MCs, associating with decline of p27 and increase of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in HG3 group(all P<0. 05). Conclusion The proliferation of MCs induced by high glucose is regulated by utilizing transgenic technology targeted and regulated FoxO1 expression and consequently through FoxO1 / p27 signaling pathway. These findings indicate that FoxO1 seems to be a new therapeutic target for early diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients greatly affects prognosis of liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to prevent tumor recurrence has aroused increasing attention. Arsenious acid chemotherapy is considered effective on treating moderate or advanced liver cancer, but its utilization following liver transplantation remains few. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of arsenious acid on tumor recurrence in liver transplant patients with primary HCC extending Milan criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were routinely followed up for 3-32 months. Thirty recipients were presented with tumor recurrence, 16 in the chemotherapy group and 14 in the non-chemotherapy group. Tumor recurred in lung, liver graft and bones in most cases. The total recurrence rate was similar in these two groups, but chemotherapy could delay recurrence after transplantation (P=0.026). There was no significance in 6-month, 1-year survival rate between two groups, but the 2-year survival in the chemotherapy group was higher (P=0.037); 6-month tumor-free survival rates in the two groups had no significance, 1-year and 2-year tumor-free in the chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the non-chemotherapy group (P=0.030, 0.023). Intravenous arsenious acid chemotherapy can delay tumor recurrence and prolong survival in liver transplant patients with HCC extending Milan criteria.

Objective To clarify the clinical features and genetic background of a kindred of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD).Methods Detailed clinical characteristics and laboratory test results from a ten-year old girl diagnosed as PPNAD were collected.Seven members of her family were screened for Cushing syndrome and Carney complex,and their blood DNA was extracted and sequenced for PRKAR1A,PDE11A,PDE8B and CTNNB1 mutations with ABI3730.Results The girl presented with symptoms and signs of hypercortisolism,while no features of Carney complex were observed.Hypercortisolemia,suppressed corticotrophin and high urinary free cortisol level were revealed.Cortisol level could not be suppressed both in high and low dose dexamethasone suppression test.The diagnosis of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing syndrome was established.Image and pathology of adrenal glands were in accordance with PPNAD.Other family members showed no evidence of Cushing syndrome or Carney complex.DNA sequencing showed that the patient harbored a missense mutation,C18G.Her father and younger sister were proved to be carriers of this mutation.Conclusion A Chinese PPNAD family was identified clinically and genetically,and a novel missense mutation of PRKAR1A was found.

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the activities of glycome-tabolism rate-limiting enzymes in erythrocytes and the plasma levels of glucose and malondialdehyde in pa-tients undergoing radical gastrectomy for cancer.Methods Sixty patients,38 males and 22 females,aged 60-80 years,scheduled for radical gastrectomy for cancer were randomly divided into dexmedetomidine group (group D)and control group (group C),30 cases in each group.The patients in group D were intra-venously infused 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine 10 minutes before operation and perioperatively followed by an infusion at a rate of 0.3 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 until the abdomen were closed.Group C was infused the same a-mount of normal saline.Venous blood samples were collected for the measurement of phosphofructokinase (PFK),glucose-6-phasphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD)and aldose reductase (AR)activities in erythrocytes and the plasma levels of glucose and malondialdehyde (MDA)before induction (T0 ),60 min following the incision (T1 ),60 min (T2 ),day 1 (T3 )and day 2 (T4 )after operation.Results Compared with these at T0 ,the activity of PFK was decreased significantly and the activities of G-6PD and AR were increased markedly at T3 in both groups (P <0.05 or P <0.01),however the activity of the PFK was significantly higher,G-6PD and AR were significantly lower in group D than those in group C (P <0.05).The levels of plasma glucose elevated significantly at T1 (P <0.01),reached high peak values at T3 (P <0.01)and fell at T4 in both groups.The values of plasma glucose in group D were lower than those in group C at T1 ,T2 and T3 (P <0.01).The MDA concentration in both groups increased significantly at T3 (P <0.01),while that of group D was lower than group C (P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine could markedly decrease glucose level and alleviate oxidative stress and improve these erythrocyte glucose metabolism changes after radical gastrectomy for cancer in old patients.

BACKGROUND:It is still a research focus on constructing substitution of the human tissues and organs, or producing the alliance for grafting by engineering methods in tissue engineering. Among these researches, it is pivotal to choose appropriate materials. The prepared scaffolds should have suitable tensile strength and mechanical toughness to withstand the various outside forces without being damaged. So, it is very necessary to evaluate the biomechanical properties of candidated materials in tissue engineering, which can supply the references for selecting materials for tissue scaffolds and their designation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical properties of nine kinds of scaffold materials, in order to supply a biomechanical basis for the selection and design of scaffold materials for tissue engineering.DESIGN: A repetitive measurement study.SETTING: College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University.MATERIALS: The materials involved in this study were poly (DL-lactic-co - glycolic acid) (PLGA), sodium polymannuronate, gelatine, chitosan, collagen, acellular porcine dermis (APD), acellular vascular matrix (AVM),APD-PLGA, AVM-PLGA, modified gelatine and chitosan.METHODS: All the experiments related to this study were completed in the Biorheology laboratory of the College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University from April 2006 to March 2007. The nine materials above were prepared, gelatine and chitosan were modified. Stress-strain testing was performed at 10 mm per minute by a material testing machine (INSTRON 1011, USA). The Yang's modulus was calculated in the range of 0.005 to 0.02, the ultimate strain and stress were also obtained.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ultimate strain, ultimate stress and Yang's modulus of the nine materials were analyzed.polymannuronate ＞ AVM-PLGA ＞ collagen ＞ gelatine (P ＜ 0.05). The rate of burst straining of chitosan and PLGA were greater than those of other materials, 133% and 276% respectively (P ＜ 0.05). In addition, after being combined with ultimate stresses of APD and APD-PLGA were greater than that of other materials, i.e., their burst strengths were greater than those of other materials. The data also indicated that the burst strength of APD-PLGA was a little greater than that of APD (P ＞ 0.05). The burst strengths of gelatin, chitosan, and collagen were similar at the range of 7.67 to 9.51 MPa (P ＞ 0.05). The burst strengths of collagen and sodium polymannuronate were from 1.16 to 1.40 MPa, which were the least among all the materials. At the same time, being combined with PLGA, the burst strength of AVM-PLGA greatest, i.e., its rigidity was the greatest. The rigidity of APD was the least. After combined with PLGA, the rigidity of AVM and APD were increased (P ＜ 0.05), and corresponded with PLGA (P＞ 0.05). Except for gelatin, the order of rigidity in the materials was AVM-PLGA ＞ PLGA ＞ APD-PLGA ＞ AVM ＞ chitosan ＞ sodium polymannuronate ＞ collagen ＞ APD.CONCLUSION: AVM and APD have good biomechanical properties, which are very different from the water-soluble collagen. It is promising to improve the biomechanical properties of sodium polymannuronate, gelatin and chitosan by the complex of PLGA.

Objective To evaluate the method of establishment of a minipig model of ischemic heart failure(HF) with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) by coronary balloon occlusion and coadministration of injecting of microthrombi and plastic microspheres.Methods A total of eighteen minipigs were selected.After coronary angiography,angioplasty balloons were placed in the mid-distal of left anterior descending(LAD).The balloon was inflated intermittently to occlude the LAD 3 times and then to occlude it continuously for 120 minutes.After the balloon was taken out,4F Judkins-type angiogrphic catheter was superelectively engaged in LAD and 3 mL intermixture of mierothrombi and plastic microspheres were injected at 10 minites interval until TIMI myocardial perfusion was grade<2 and left ventfieular end-diastolic pressure was maintained from 15 to 18 mmHg.Electrocardiogram(ECG),hemodynamic perameters,ultrasonic cardiogram,cTnI and CK-MB were measured.Myocardial infarction area was evaluated by histopathology.Results Fourteen days later,fifteen minipigs survived and fourteen satisfied the criteria(pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.PCWP>18 mmHg and eardio output (CO) decreased beyond 30% ). The changes of ECG, hemodynamic perameters, CKMB, cTnI and cardiac pathologic examination were in accordance with AMI. Conclusion A stable experimental method of establishment of minipig model of ischemic heart failure (HF) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by coronary balloon occlusion and coadministration of injecting of microthrombi and plastic mierospheres is succeded. This method has advantages such as closed chest, higher success rate and stability compared with the drug induced, taehycardia-pacing induced, coronary artery ligation induced or microsphere injection alone methods.

The methylation status of GNAS1 gene in pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib patients was detected by methylation-specific PGR technique. There was an abnormal methylation of 1A region in all seven PHPIb patients. Loss of exon 1A methylation (imprinting defect) seems to be the cause of PHPIb.