Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.Mutations in the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase(SOD1)gene cause ALS by an unknown gain-of-function mechanism.Current researches show that diminishing SOD1 mutation enzymatic activity does not account for motor neuron lose in ALS,while direct toxicity of variant SOD1 protein or aggregation of SOD1 protein may impart cell function and cause motor neuron death.Though motor neuron death is selective,other cells also participate in this course.The author reviewed recent advances in the relationship between mutant SOD1 and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Objective To investigate the role of transcription factor Ets-1 involved in premature rupture of membranes(PROM) by detecting its expression and location in human fetal membranes. Methods Between Feb. and Nov. 2007, 100 pregnant women who delivered in the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University were enrolled in this study. According to gestational weeks, rupture of amuiochorionic membranes and delivery mode, those women were classified into preterm labor group, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) group, term labor group and term premature rupture of membranes (TPROM) group, matched with elective term cesarean sections women as control group. There were 20 pregnant women in every group. The expression and distribution of Ets-1 protein in fetal membranes were detected by immunohistochemical streptravidin-biotin peroxidase(SP) method and histoscore. In the mean time, 6 cases were chosen from each group randomly and reverse transcription-PCR was used to measure the Ets-1 mRNA expression. Results (1) The expression of Ets-1 mRNA in fetal membranes were 0.342±0.016 in preterm labor group,0.603±0.027 in PPROM group,0.325±0.013 in term labor group, 0.582±0.075 in TPROM group,0.139±0.012 in control group, respectively. When compared with that in control group, Ets-1 mRNA expression were significantly increased in both PPROM and TPROM group(P< 0.05). However, it did not show remarkably difference between preterm group and term labor group, as well as between PPROM and TPROM group (P>0.05). (2) Ets-1 was in stromal layers of amniochorionic membranes and in both cytoplasm and nuclei of trophoblast, which were shown with diffuse intracellular positive granularities (brown-yellow) clearly. No expression of Ets-1 was observed in amniotic epithelial cells. (3) The expression of Ets-1 protein was 0.552±0.018 in preterm labor group, 2.853±0.174 in PPROM group, 0.538±0.042 in term labor group, 2.731±0.090 in TPROM group and 0.214±0.013 in control group, respectively. Ets-1 protein was significantly increased in the stroma of both PPROM and TPROM group than that in control group(P<0.05). However, no remarkable different expression of Ets-1 was observed between preterm and term labor group,so was that between PPROM and TPROM group(P> 0.05). Conclusion Transcription factor Ets-1 is expressed in human amniochorionic membranes and it could be up-regulated in PROM.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the clinic manifestations and the electromyogram changes in patients with chronic N2hexane intoxication. Methods The clinic manifestations, the electromyography and nerve conduction velocities were analyzed in 9 patients with N2hexane intoxi2 cation. Results The main clinical manifestations of the disease were acroparesthesia and asthenia, especially in legs. The abnormality rate of electromyography in patients with N2hexane intoxication was 100%. The conduction velocity of the sensory nerve and the motor nerve decreased at a rate of 33.33% and 88.89% respectively. The distal latencies were prolonged( 100% ). The denervated electromyogram was 33.33%. Conclusion The main clinical manifestations of the disease were Peripheral neuropathy. The chronic N2hexane intoxication mainly led to the imparement, especially in the distal region of the motor nerve in legs,and the damages of the nerve could be related to the duration of exposure to N2hexane.

Objective To observe the relation between functions of vessels of lower extremities and TCM syndromes differentiation in diabetes patients. Methods Totally 168 diabetics of Type II were differentiated into 5 syndromes, i.e. 29 cases of yin deficiency with excessive heat, 41 cases of qi and yin deficiency, 30 cases of yin and yang deficiency, 37 cases of blood stasis in channels, and 31 cases of damp heat affecting the spleen, and 26 healthy people were involved in the control group. The peripheral vessel diagnostic system was adopted to get the toe photoplethysmogram (PPG) and ankle brachial index (ABI) to observe the blood perfusion of limb terminals and the functional state of lower limb arteries. The relation between function of vessels of lower extremities and TCM syndrome was analyzed. Results All the diabetic groups were related with the arterial blood supply of toe terminals. Diabetes was the main risk factor in affecting the terminal blood supply (P

there are abundant products and fierce competitions in the market of skin-care products,which on the one hand provide customers with multiple choices,but on the other hand also make it difficult for customers to choose proper products.Under this circumstance,it is quite possible to create a new career of skin-care-consultant,which serves as a communication bridge between customers and skin-care products.This paper aims to clarify the ethical significance of the new-rising career of skin-care-product consultant.

Objective To investigate the treatment of pronation external rotation ankle injuries and to evaluate its outcomes. Methods 58 cases of severe ankle injuries of pronation external rotation type who had been hospitalized between October, 2001 and October, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. They were 42 males and 16 females, with an average age of 32.4 years old (16 to 61 years old). According to Lauge Hansen classification, 39 cases were grouped as grade Ⅲ, while other 19 cases as grade Ⅳ. Most cases were surgically managed, and routine examinations were done. Results The average follow up period was 16.4 months (from 10 to 36 months). The satisfactory outcome was 89.7%. 2 cases of osteoarthritis were observed. Conclusions In treatment of pronation external rotation ankle injuries, the key points are to correct the fibular shortening and external rotation and to take great care of technical details.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors in the non-operative treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 122 patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation from January 2009 to December 2012 treated by non-operative treatment were retrospectively reviewed. There were 84 males and 38 females, aged from 18 to 83 years with an average of (52.37 +/- 13.27) years. The clinical features, such as age, gender, cause of injury, time from injury to treatment, ASIA grade of spine cord injury, MRI type of spine cord injury, range of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, segment of intervertebral disc herniation, intervertebral disc ligament complex injury, treatment of high-dose methyiprednisolone, were observed. Single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression analysis were used in the clinical data in order to analyze the influencing factors of above items to prognosis.

RESULTSFor univariate analysis, the factors such as MRI type of spine cord injury, extent of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, segment of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury, associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the main prognostic factors including MRI type of spine cord injury, range of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury according to its effective intension (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe main prognostic factors on non-operative treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation were MRI type and extent of spine cord injury, meanwhile, correlate with effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury. It is deliberative to choose no-operative treatment, for it only refers to the patients with the mild localized edema type or no signal change of spinal cord in MRII. Operative treatment shoud be recommended for other patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Cord ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

With the wide application of Chinese herbal medicine, herb-drug interaction (HDI) has become increasingly prominent. Metabolic enzymes and transporters are the main targets of HDI, because the changes in expression and function of enzymes and transporters can influence the disposition of drugs. Metabolic enzymes are responsible for the metabolic clearance of drugs, including cytochrome P450 (CYP), UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UGT) and sulfotransferases (SULT); transporters widely expressed in the intestine, kidney, liver and brain are involved in the oral absorption, distribution and excretion of drugs. Pueraria, ginkgo, ginseng, St. John's wort and other Chinese herbal medicine often induce a HDI because those herbal medicines combined with chemical medicine are widely used in clinic. The components of herb medicines mentioned above are prone to interact with enzymes and transporters, which often induce a HDI. This paper reviews the advances in the study of enzymes and transporters-mediated pharmacokinetic mechanism of HDI.
Biological Products ; Biological Transport ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Ginkgo biloba ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; physiology ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Panax ; Plants, Medicinal ; Pueraria

Objective To compare analgesic efficacy of intravenous postoperative and preemptive analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil combined with small dose of morphine and with morphine alone. Methods One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into four groups: group A,morphine 30 mg +0.9% NaCl for postoperative analgesia,n=30;group B,morphine 20 mg +0.9% NaCl for postoperative analgesia,n=30;group C,flurbiprofen axetil 100 mg + morphine 20 mg +0.9% NaCl for postoperative analgesia,n=30;group D,flurbiprofen axetil 100 mg before operation + morphine 20 mg +0.9% NaCl for postoperative analgesia,n=30.The drugs in each group were diluted to 100 mL and infused by a pump at a rate of 2 mL/h with a patient-controlled analgesia(PCA)bolus of 2 mL after a loading dose of 5 mL.The visual analogue scale(VAS),demanding times for PCA and incidence of side effects were recorded during the period of postoperative 24 h. Results The VAS of group B at 3 h after operation was significantly higher than those of the other three groups(P

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is well known as a Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent kinase. eEF2K catalyzes the phosphorylation of eEF2 and subsequently inactivates eEF2 by impairing its ability to bind to the ribosome, thereby negatively modulates protein synthesis. The high expression of eEF2K has been found recently in several types of malignancies. As participating in the progress of tumor, eEF2K emerges a potential target for future cancer therapy. The relationship between eEF2K and tumor, and the latest progress of eEF2K inhibitors were summarized in this article.
Elongation Factor 2 Kinase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Peptide Elongation Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation