Cationic polymers are being developed quickly as gene delivery vectors. For in vivo gene delivery, the cationic polymers are usually further modified by hydrophilic polymer grafting or ligand conjugation, which have been shown to increase the vector stability, gene delivery efficiency and specificity greatly. Some previous research had shown that modified hydrophilic polymer may partly shield the targeting ligand and result in poor delivery specificity. Developing a method to evaluate the influence of PEG modification on targeting delivery is particularly critical to cationic polymer design and gene therapy development. One of most commonly used cationic polymer polylysine (PLL) was chosen as a model. Targeting ligand epidermal growth factor(EGF)was conjugated with PLL to form PLL-EGF. Then hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular mass 7 000 and 20 000 were used to modify PLL-EGF respectively to generate PEG7000-g-PLL-EGF and PEG20000-g-PLL-EGF. In BIAcore experiments, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was conjugated onto BIAcore chip and various PEG modified PLL-EGF solutions were flowed over the chip. By observing the change of RU value, the specific interaction of EGF to EGFR was compared. Compared with PLL-EGF, PEG modified PLL-EGF showed lower association rate and higher disassociation rate to EGFR. Furthermore, compared to PEG7000 modified PLL-EGF, PEG20000 modified PLL-EGF got lower association rate and higher disassociation rate to EGFR. The Scatchard analysis results showed that the interactions between EGFR and PLL-EGF or PEG-PLL-EGF are non-linear. It can be concluded that PEG modification indeed reduced the association rate and enhanced the dissociation rate of EGF to EGFR. The length of PEG chain was also a key factor to influence interaction between ligand and receptor. The results showed that it was critical important to evaluate the influence of PEG modification on delivery specificities. The BIAcore method developed in this paper can successfully evaluate the influence, which would be important for cationic polymer design and its application as potential non-viral gene delivery vectors.

AIM: To study the quality control of Fuyankang Capsule(Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae,Radix Paeoniae Rubra,Radix Scutellariae,etc.) METHODS: The presence of Radix Paeoniae Rubra,Herba Taraxaci,Radix Scutellariae,Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati were identified by TLC.The content of hydroxybenzyl laxticacid,dansensu in the capsule was assayed by HPLC. RESULTS: Linearity of dansensu was found in the range from 0.04 ?g to 0.20 ?g.The average recovery was 98.8% and RSD was 1.5%. CONCLUSION: The method is highly sensitive,simple,precise and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of the capsule.

Objective To evaluate the difference of carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) among different glucose tolerance status and to investigate the association of IMT with different glucose levels of 4 time points during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the lipid metabolic indices in non-diabetic subjects. Methods Eleven normal control subjects, 69 subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) newly diagnosed by OGTT (including 28 patients with non-elevated OGTT 30 min and 60 min glucose values (

Objective To compare the clinical effect of two kinds of internal fixation of locking plate and anatomical plate in the treatment of Pilon fracture.Methods 64 patients with Pilon fracture undergoing elective surgery were randomly divided into study group and control group by digital table method,32 cases in each group.The study group received locking plate internal fixation for the treatment,the control group was treated with anatomical plate internal fixation.The clinical efficacy and safety of two kinds of internal fixation methods were compared.Results After treatment,the excellent rate of ankle joint function in the study group(96.88%)was significantly higher than that in the control group (81.25%),and the difference had statistical ssignificance (χ2 =4.01,P <0.05 ).The operative time,hospitalization time and fracture healing time[(57.32 ±10.98)min,(13.72 ±591 )d,(15.72 ± 2.82)weeks]in the study group were shorter than those in the control group[(68.11 ±11.85 )min,(16.62 ± 5.21)d,(17.81 ±3.42)weeks],and the differences had statistical significance(t =3.98,3.11,321,all P <0.05). The amount of bleeding (153.32 ±21.36)mL in the study group was less than that in the control group [(188.65 ± 26.24)mL](t =5.46,P <0.05).The incidence rate of delayed fracture healing of the study group (3.13%)was significantly lower than that in the control group(28.13%),the difference had statistical significance(χ2 =7.59,P <0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence of other complications between the two groups(χ2 =1.95,102,102,0.35,all P >0.05).Conclusion Locking plate fixation in the treatment of Pilon fractures could significantly promote the recovery of joint function,and has the advantages of short operation time,fast fracture healing,less complications and other advantages,it is better than anatomical plate internal fixation.

OBJECTIVETo examine the oral health status among the orphan children and adolescents of Chongqing and assist in planning of the oral health programs.

METHODSAccording to the third national oral health investigation of epidemiology, the dental caries, gingival bleeding and calculus was examined among 317 orphan living in Chongqing, by cluster sampling. The statistical software SPSS 17.0 was used for the data analysis.

RESULTSIn primary and permanent teeth, the prevalence of dental caries and mean DMFT (dmft) were found to be 50.00%, 1.94 +/- 2.81 and 39.53%, 0.90 +/- 1.38. There were no significant difference between female and male (P>0.05). But there was significant difference of the prevalence of permanent tooth caries between the age group under 12 (include 12) and above 12 (P < 0.05). It was also found that 35.25% of the orphan children and adolescents had caries in the first permanent molar, and there was significant difference between female and male (P < 0.05). Neither of the caries teeth above was treated nor the healthy teeth were sealed. The prevalence rate of gingival bleeding was 78.22%, and the calculus rate was 67.66%.

CONCLUSIONThe oral status of the orphan is poor, and this community has experienced a low utilization of preventive or therapeutic oral health services. In the future work, orphans should be considered as a priority group when make plans for oral health care.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; DMF Index ; Dental Caries ; Dentition, Permanent ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Molar ; Oral Health ; Prevalence

Objective Measurement of ankle brachial index (ABI) is a simple method of assessing lower limb arterial blood supply,while measurement of toe brachial index (TBI)has only been advocated as an alternative.The aim of this study was to obtain information about whether TBI should be taken in type 2 diabetes,even when ABI is normal,and to evaluate the relationship between TBI and atherosclerosis.Methods In a crosssection study,ABI,TBI,and carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) were measured on 979 outpatients with type 2 diabetes in Ruijin Hospital.Those with normal ABI (0.9 ≤ABI ＜ 1.3,n = 945) were divided into two groupsnormal TBI group(TBI≥0.6,n=893) and low TBI group(TBI＜0.6,n=52),and then the clinical and laboratory data were compared between these two groups.Furthermore,the relationship between TBI and atherosclerosis was investigated.Atherosclerosis was defined as the maximum IMT ≥ 1.1 mm.Results Low ABI and low TBI were detected in 1.3% and 6.6% of the patients,respectively.Comparison of the clinical and laboratory data between the two groups showed that age and HbA1C values were significantly higher in the low TBI group.Furthermore,TBI was inversely associated with IMT(β=-0.217,P＜0.01),an indicator for atherosclerosis of the carotid artery.Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that decline of TBI was an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis (OR=1.30,95% CI 1.01-1.69,P＜0.05).Conclusion In type 2 diabetes,the decline of TBI is associated with atherosclerosis,indicating the necessity for diabetic patients to detect TBI,even when ABI is within normal range,in order to detect peripheral artery disease in early stage,and reduce the risk for atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of diltiazem, one of calcium antagonists, on the function of rat beta cells and the re- lease of insulin induced by D860. Methods Intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTY) was conducted to assess beta-cell function of rats among control, dihiazem, D860, and dihiazem plus D860 groups, followed by treatment with dihiazem and D860 for 4 weeks respectively. Another IVGTT was carded out at the end of the study. Results The data showed that diltiazem could inhibit insulin released from normal SD rats. Moreover, it reduced the hypoglycemic effect promoted by D860. However, in long term, the rise of blood sugar in rats treated with D860 respectively was not found. Conclusion Diltiazem did not impair beta cells function and interfere the hypoglycemic effect of D860 in rats in long time.

Objective To assay the serum adiponectin levels in normal subjects and patients with insulin resistance syndrome, and to explore the correlation between adiponectin and insulin sensitivity, blood glucose, insulin, lipids etc. Methods Insulin sensitivity index (SI) was assessed by the reduced sample number of Bergman's minimal model method with intravenous glucose tolerance test in subjects of normal controls, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance (ICT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Meanwhile the anthropometrical parameters such as body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were evaluated and the serum lipids, fasting and postprandial 2 h plasma glucose and insulin levels were also measured. Results Compared with normal control group, the SI in obesity, IGT and type 2 DM groups was significantly decreased (P

To investigate the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection upon the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and N-methyl-D-aspirate receptor (NMDA) subunits NR2A and NR2B,Wistar rats of 4 weeks old were randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 rats in each group in which 2 mL suspensions of T.gondii tachyzoits in the concentrations of 2×10~7/mL and 2×10~5/mL were injected intra-peritoneally to rats in group A and group B respectively, serving as the experimental groups, while 2 mL of sterile physiologic saline was injected intra-peritoneally in group C serving as the control group. Four weeks after injection, the expressions of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in the brain tissues were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical assay and the expressions of NR2A and NR2B immune activity in the hippocampal CA1,CA3 and DG were investigated by using computer-assisted image analysis system. Compared with the control group, the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus of the experimental groups was significantly enhanced [(64.27±23.18), (50.39±19.34) vs (44.68±22.74)/mm~2,P＜0.05]. In addition, the increased expressions of BDNF mRNA in the hippocampus of the experimental groups were also demonstrated [(0.13±0.02), (0.12±0.02) vs (0.09±0.01); P＜0.05]. In the expression of the NR2A protein, their expressions in group A and B of rats were significantly lower than that of group C in CA3 (P＜0.05),but there was no significant change in CA1 and DG. In the expression of NR2B protein, the expressions in group A and B were also lower than that of group C in CA1 and CA3, and had no significant change in DG. It is evident that the expressions of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in hippocampal tissues were significantly increased following chronic infection with T.gondii, supporting the hypothesis that BDNF may be involved in the intrinsic neuro-protective mechanism.

Objective To study the effect of iron overload on the bone marrow hematopoietic function on immuo-related pancytopenia(IRP)patients by hematopoietic progenitor cell(HPC)culture of bone marrow(BM).Methods BM liquid 4～5 mL was taken from 46 IRP patients of General Hospital Tianjin Medical University from July 2009 to February 2010 to detect colony-forming-unit of erythrocyte,blast-forming-unit of erythrocyte and colony-forming-unit of granulocyte-monocyteby HPC culture of BM.And according to the serum ferritin(SF)level,these patients were classified into 2 groups to compare HPC proliferation,blood cell counts,BM proliferation,blood transfusion and treatment effects.Results The mean values of 3 different colonies of IRP patients with high SF level [(43.33?17.74),(1.50?2.2),(11.06?5.83)/105BMMNC] were significantly lower than those of the patients with normal SF level [(77.43?40.64),(9.57?7.99),(21.25?11.41)/105BMMNC](P