OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Jinqi Jiangtang Tablet (JQJTT), a commonly prescribed recipe for type 2 diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine, on obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Twenty-four obese women with PCOS were prescribed JQJTT for 3 months and the changes of carbohydrate metabolism and biochemical indicators, including menstrual cycle, body mass index (BMI), the level of blood sex hormone, area under curve (AUC) of glucose and insulin during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and testosterone responses during human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation ovary test were observed. RESULTS: After treatment, there were significantly reductions in BMI (P<0.05), serum glucose level at 30 min during OGTT (P<0.05) and testosterone levels at eighteen hours during human chorionic gonadotrophin stimulation ovary test (P<0.05). In addition, nine patients had improved cycles among sixteen completed patients, and one patient with clomifene resistance got pregnant with response to clomifene treatment. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of JQJTT may result from improvement of carbohydrate metabolism and reduction in androgen biosynthesis in women with PCOS.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effect of transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects(VSD) using the VSD occluder.Methods: From December 2003 to March 2005,13 VSD patients,8 males and 5 females,ranging in age from 4 to 35(15.2?10.7)years,underwent catheter closure using the VSD occluder.Tthe mean diameter of the VSD obtained by transthoracic echocardiography was 4-12(5.4?1.2) mm.Transcatheter closure was performed under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance after left ventriculography.All patients were followed up 1,3 and 6 months after the procedures. Results: The devices were successfully placed in 12 of the patients and complete closure achieved in 11.Trace residual shunt was observed in 1 patient but disappeared within 10 minutes.No severe complications were noted except 1 case of complete right bundle branch block revealed by electrocardiography. Conclusion: Transcatheter closure of VSD by the VSD occluder is a safe and effective procedure,with good immediate results.Further clinical trials are under way to assess its long-term effect.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to explore the impact of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) knockdown on the proliferation and migration capacities of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODSThe rat bone marrow derived EPCs were obtained and divided into three groups: adenovirus negative control (NSC) group, rat STIM1 adenovirus vector transfection (si/rSTIM1) group and rat and human recombinant STIM1 adenovirus transfection (si/rSTIM1+hSTIM1) group. The STIM1 expressions in each group were detected by reverse transcription PCR after transfection. The cell proliferation was tested by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay ((3)H-TdR). Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. The cells migration activity was detected by Boyden assay. Calcium ion concentration was detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

RESULTS48 h after transfection, the expression level of STIM1 in si/rSTIM1 group was significantly lower than that in NSC group (0.21 ± 0.12 vs. 1.01 ± 0.01, P < 0.05), and number of EPCs at G1 phase in si/rSTIM1 group ((93.31 ± 0.24)%) was significantly higher than that in NSC group ((78.03 ± 0.34)%, P < 0.05), and EPCs' migration activity in si/rSTIM1 group (10.03 ± 0.33) was significantly lower than that in NSC group (32.11 ± 0.54, P < 0.05), and EPCs calcium ion concentration in EPCs in si/rSTIM1 group (38.03 ± 0.13) was significantly lower than that in NSC group (98.11 ± 0.34, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between si/rSTIM1+hSTIM1 group and NSC group on the above four indexes.

CONCLUSIONSilencing STIM1 could attenuate EPCs proliferation and migration capacities by modulating the calcium ion concentration in EPCs.

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Rats ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection