Objective To investigate the difference and treatment strategy of malignancy-associated dermatomyositis and other para-neoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS).Methods The clinical characteristics of a patient with malignancy-associated dermatomyositis and poly radiculoneuropathy was reported and the relevant literature was reviewed.Results Patients with dermatomyositis had increased risk of malignancies,and should routinely screened.Dermatomyositis and polyradiculoneuropathy was clinically similar,but could rarely be seen in the same malignant patient.Malignancy -associated dermatomyositis and PNS had similar pathogenesis.The treatment strategy of both was similar.Malignancy specific treatment should be initiated and immune suppressive agents should be prescribed concurrently.Conclusion Rheumatolgists should aware the association between dermatomyositis and potential underlying malignancies.Multiple para-neoplastic syndromes could be seen in the same patient,but the diagnosis should be considered as one.

The authors conceive of dispersing and transferring medical risks by means of insurance. They suggest developing two modules of insurance business, including malpractice insurance and medical accident insurance. They also discuss such basic issues as risk financing, financial compensation and choice of insurance undertakers.

Objective To examine the effects of intracerebroventricular administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on the expression of Fos and spontaneous electric activity of area postrema (AP) neurons in sino-aortic denervated rats. Methods To determine the expression of Fos and the spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons in male Sprague-Dawley rats by immunohistochemistry. Results Following Intracerebroventricular administration of AM (1 nmol/kg, 3 nmol/kg), Fos-like immunoreactive (Fos-LI) neurons and the discharge rate of AP neurons markedly increased. Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (30 nmol/kg) significantly inhibited the effects of AM (3 nmol/kg). Conclusion AM may activate the neurons in AP via CGRP receptors.

Objective To estimate the frequency of heart valvular involvement in Chinese patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and its correlation with other clinical features. Methods Ninety-one patients with TAK were studied and their clinical manifestations, laboratory test, vascular images and echocardio - gra-phic findings were retrospectively reviewed. The data were compared between patients who had heart valvular involvement and those who had not. Mann-Whitney U-test or Student's t-test, Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test were used for analysis. Results Aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation were both confirmed in 20 (22%) patients. Tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary valve regurgitation were observed in 10 (11%) and 2 (2%) patients, respectively. Older age at onset, longer disease duration, hypertension and involvement of the ascending aorta were all significantly more frequent in TAK patients with aortic regurgitation (t=2.903, P<0.01; Z=-2.759, P<0.01; χ2=7.918, P<0.01; Z=-4.454, P<0.01) than those without. However, the constitutional symptoms and acute phase reactants [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP)] were not statistically different between patients with and without valvular regurgitation (P>0.05). Aortic valvular pathology examination of the three TAK patients who had underwent aortic valve replacement showed no inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that heart valve involvement is common in patients with TAK, mainly in the form of regurgitation, and which may be secondary to hypertension and other cardiovascular complications. We should pay more attention to the screening and treatment of heart valvular involvement in TAK patients.

We examined the effects of intracerebroventricular ( i. c. v) administration of adrenomedullin (ADM) on catecholaminergic neurons and the expression of c-fos gene in rat brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation using double immunohistochemical method for Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The results showed that: ( 1 ) Following icy administration of ADM (3 nmol/kg) , double-labeled neurons for Fos and TH were significantly increased in the area postrema ( AP), the nucleus of the solitary tract ( NTS), the nucleus paragigantocelluaris laterialis (PGL) and the locus coeruleus (LC). (2) Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonis CGRP8-37 (30 nmol/kg) significantly reduced the action of ADM (3 nmol/kg) in the brain. The present study suggested that ADM might activate the neurons of the brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation, and supported the hypothesis that the central action of ADM were induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons of brainstem nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation, CGRP receptor might mediate the effects of ADM.

Until now, although the molecule of EDHF has not been cloned, some characteristics of EDHF has been clarified by scientists. It is different from NO and prostacyclin, and it is considered to play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone by stimulating the channels of K + and Ca 2+ .

Objective:To construct a specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing vectors against human receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) gene and study its inhibitory effect on the proliferation of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells DU145. Methods:Four RAGE specific oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized. These oligonucleotides were annealed to forill double strand DNA fragments and this fragment was cloned into psi-U6 plasmid. The recombinants were transfected into RAGE-overexpressing sub DU145-2C1 cells. Cellular morphology and transfection efficiency were observed under fluorescence microscope. The inhibitory effect of RAGE shRNA construct on RAGE mRNA and protein expression was examined with semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The cellular proliferation was detected with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Scratch test was used to observe the migration of DU145 cells.Results:RAGE shRNA expression plasmids were successfully constructed and transfected into sub DU145-2C1 cells. It can effectively inhibit the expression of RAGE mRNA (P<0.05). The inhibitory effects of shRNA RAGE-1 (R1) was the most stronger. The RAGE mRNA expression was inhibited by 84% and RAGE protein expression was inhibited by 27%. Compared with negative control, the proliferation potential was significantly decreased in shRNA RAGE-transfected cells. The cell migration capability had no significant changes. Conclusion:RAGE shRNA effectively inhibited the expression of RAGE mRNA and protein and suppressed the proliferation of DU145 cells in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effects of metabolically correlated factors on pig renal tubule in cellular level by observing effects of glucose,insulin and uric acid on activity of haemachrome oxygenase in renal tubular epithelial cells.Methods Pig near renal tubular cell line(LLC-PK1) was selected as experimental object.After stimulating cells respectively with glucose(5,10,22,33mmol/L),uric acid(0,0.1,0.2,0.4mmol/L);and insulin(0,10~(-9),0~(-8),10~(-7)mol/L) in different concentrations for 48 hours,the activity of HO-1 within the cells was determined.Results In uric acid group the activity of HO-1 was significantly increased in a concentration-dependent manner,while in glucose and insulin groups,the activity of HO-1 did not change.Conclusion After LLC-PK1 was stimulated by uric acid of different concentrations,HO-1 was induced evidently,which indicates that uric acid might affect oxidative stress in renal tubule cell line.

Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of the antibodies against midgut-protein-ingredient of Anopheles stephensi on the oocysts of Plasmodium yoelii.Methods Female An.stephensi mosquitoes raised in laboratory were dissected and the midguts were collected.Eight BALB/c mice were immunized using midgut-protein(100 ?g/mouse,4 times with an interval of 7～10day).Ten days after the last immunization,blood was taken from mice armpit artery and serum separated.The immune active antigen of the midgut protein was analyzed by Western blotting.Protein with Mr 38 000～50 000 was separated by sephadex filtering and used to immunize 12 BALB/c mice(100 ?g/mouse,4 times with interval of 7～10 days).PBS control group was established.Seven days after the last immunization,serum antibody was detected by ELISA.When the antibody titer in immunized mice reached ≥1:2 560,mice in both groups were infected by P.yoelii(about 2?107 plasmodium-infected RBC) by abdominal injection.The mosquitoes were fed on the infected mice when the number of female gametes was higher than 2 per 10 microscopical fields 3 days later.After 9 days,the mosquitoes were dissected and the amount of oocysts in midgut was counted.Results Eight protein bands were shown in midgut-protein of An.stephensi by Western blotting and the band of Mr 38 000～50 000-midgut-protein appeared clearer.The infection rate of oocysts in the experiment and control groups were 28.70%(62/216) and 51.09%(47/92) respectively(P

Objective To study the clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of polycystic liver disease (PLD)complicated with portal hypertension (PHT).Methods The clinical data of one patient with PLD and PHT was retrospectively analyzed,and relevant literature was reviewed.Results The patient presented fatigue,dyspepsia, abdominal distension and lower limb edema.Laboratory examination showed mild liver dysfunction(Alkaline phospha-tase 291.2U/L,gamma glutamyl transpeptidase 168.1U/L,59.9g/L,total protein,albumin 32.2g/L,21.0μmol /L, total bilirubin,direct bilirubin 11.5μmol /L).Abdominal ultrasound (US)and computerized tomography (CT) showed multiple noncommunicating cysts of varying size in both liver and kidney.Antioxidant supplements and diuretic were introduced,and the therapy was approved to be effective.Conclusion The case in this report illustrates that PLD could occasionally present with PHT.Physician should be alert to prevent misdiagnosis.