Objective·To investigate the reference range for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in pregnant women in Shanghai. Methods·A total of 4969 healthy pregnant women in second trimester were enrolled, in whom there were 554 women aged over or equal to 35 years old and 4415 women aged under 35 years old. Meanwhile, 1048 non-pregnant women in child-bearing period were enrolled. The new born children had no complications of vitamin D deficiency such as rickets. The levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D of all participants were detected by ELISA. The reference interval was defined as the central 95% range between the 2.5th and the 97.5th percentiles. Results·The 95% reference range for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed a positive skewness distribution in second trimester pregnant women. The median of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was 36.8 nmol/L. The maximum was 108.6 nmol/L whereas the minimum was 11.8 nmol/L. The 95% reference range for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels was from 15.9 nmol/L to 70.3 nmol/L. The median 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 36.6 nmol/L in women less than 35 years old, and 35.5 nmol/L in women aged over or equal to 35 years old. A significant difference was found between women aged under 35 years old and women aged over or equal to 35 years old (Z=-2.75, P<0.05). The median, maximum and minimum of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in non-pregnant women was 38.5 nmol/L, 110.5 nmol/L, 12.1 nmol/L, respectively, which were all higher than those in pregnant women (P<0.05). Conclusion·There was a lack of vitamin D in pregnant women in Shanghai, especially in pregnant women aged over or equal to 35 years old, despite the multivitamin supplements. However, no complications of vitamin D deficiency such as rickets were found in new born children. To determine the reference range of vitamin D in Shanghai is helpful for pregnancy women in taking vitamin supplement, especially important in preventing maternal and fetal complications caused by vitamin D deficiency.

Objective·To eliminate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor-Ig (TACI-Ig) on the opitc neuritis and the integrity of myelin sheath in mice.Methods·Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were blank control group,saline control group,low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group and high-dose (4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group,with 6 mice in each group.All groups were received intraperitoneal injection every other day.The saline control group received 0.2 mL saline injection in the same way,and the blank control group was not given any intervention.After 20 d of treatment,the eyeballs and optic nerve tissues were collected from each mouse under anaesthesia,embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Luxol fast blue (LFB),respectively.Results·H-E staining indicated that optic nerve fibers arranged closely both in blank and saline control groups and the staining of tissues was uniform.The optic nerve structure of low-dose TACI-Ig group was similar to blank and saline control groups,while in high-dose of TACI-Ig group,the infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed.The inflammatory cell infiltration scores were not significantly different in all groups (P=0.610 3).The retinal structures of all groups were clear and distinct to observe,and single ganglion cells arranged tightly with complete cell shape,visible nucleus and uniform distribution.There was no difference in the retina structure among 4 groups.LFB staining indicated that there was no significant loss of the optic nerve myelin in 4 groups by microscope observation (P=0.473 6).Conclusion·Low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig injection wouldn't damage the normal structure of optic nerves and retinal ganglion cells,meanwhile high-dose (4 mg/kg) of TACI-Ig injection might cause minor infiltration of inflammatory cells into retina.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cognitive function of first-episode schizophrenic patients and dopamine D1 receptor gene. Methods A total of 112 first-episode schizophrenic patients and 60 healthy controls were evaluated with Wechsler adult intelligence scale ( WAIS-R), Wechsler memory scale (WMS) and Wisconsin card sort test (WCST) ,and genotyped one polymorphism (rs4532) within DRD1 gene using TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Results There were no significant differences on the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of rs4532 polymorphism between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls ( x2 =2.90, P=0.35; x2 = 0.01, P= 0. 93 ). There were significant differences in all index of WCST between two groups (P ＜0.01 ). Patients with rs4532G allele had worse WCST performance than those without G allele ((60.9 ± 13.2)%vs (44.9 ±21.3)%, t=4.79, P=0.00002). Conclusion Rs4532 polymorphism of DRD1 gene may be associated with executive function impairment in schizophrenic patients.

Objective:To describe the electroclinical features of the coexistence of epilepsy and narcolepsy.Methods:The electroencephalography database was searched using the terms “epilepsy” and “narcolepsy” over a four-year period from January 2016 to December 2019 in the Xijing Hospital. The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of patients with coexistence of epilepsy and narcolepsy were studied.Results:Five patients with comorbidity for epilepsy and narcolepsy were found, of which three patients were female, two patients were male. The age at epilepsy onset and narcolepsy onset was 2-12 years and 8-17 years, respectively. There were two patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, one with sleep-related hypermoter epilepsy, one with epilepsy with retardation of brain development, one with symptomatic epilepsy with cognitive decline. All the patients had narcolepsy with cataplexy, which followed the onset of epilepsy by three months to eight years. All the patients accepted 24 h video electroencephalography monitoring and multiple sleep latency test. Interictal epileptic discharges were found, mean sleep latency was<8 min, and two or more sleep onset rapid eye movement periods were recorded. Duloxetine hydrochloride can effectively improve the drowsiness and catalepsy symptoms of narcolepsy, and seizures did not worsen in patients using duloxetine hydrochloride.Conclusions:Both generalized and focal epilepsy can occur in narcolepsy with cataplexy. Duloxetine hydrochloride may be safe and effective in treating narcolepsy in patients with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the effects of olanzapine on gastrointestinal motility is related to the serotonin antagonism and myosin light chain kinase. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Olanzapine gavage was performed for each treatment group during the course of 30 continuous days, while the same volume of saline was given to the rats in the control group. Defecation of the rats was observed on days 7 and 30 after olanzapine gavage. The effects of olanzapine on contraction of colonic smooth muscles were observed in ex vivo experiments. A Western blot was used to evaluate expression levels of the serotonin transporter (SERT) and MLCK in colon segments of the rats. RESULTS: ResultsaaCompared to the control group, 5-160 µM of olanzapine could inhibit dose-dependently the contraction of colonic smooth muscle ex vivo experiments. The maximum smooth muscle contraction effects of 5-HT and acetylcholine significantly decreased after treatment with 40-160 µM of olanzapine. Constipation was found in the olanzapine-treated rats on day 7 and have sustained day 30 after gavage. Expression of MLCK in olanzapine-treated rats was significantly decreased, whereas the expression of SERT significantly increased on the day 7, then significantly decreased on the day 30 after olanzapine gavage. CONCLUSION: SERT and MLCK may involve in the inhibition of colonic contraction induced by olanzapine.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Blotting, Western ; Colon* ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myosin Light Chains* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase* ; Myosins* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Serotonin*

Objective To investigate the changes in the prescriptions of antidepressants for inpatients with psychosis from 2005 to 2008. Methods The prescriptions of antidepressants for all the inpatients with psychosis in Shanghai Mental Health Center were investigated by one day survey on each June 1st from 2005 to 2008. The most common diseases treated with antidepressants, the most commonly used antidepressants, the average dosage of antidepressants and the combination use of antidepressants were analysed. Results The most common diseases treated with antidepressants were affective disorder, schizophrenia and neurosis. The prescription rate of tricyclic antidepressants declined year by year, and that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluctuated moderately, while that of antidepressants of newer generation with the other transmitter mechanisms such as venlafaxine, mitrazapine and trazodone increased gradually. Single antidepressant prescription was common, while the combination use of antidepressants accounted for a small portion. Combination use of antidepressants with one psychotropics (antipsychotics, mood stabilizer, sedative hypnotics) was common, while with two were less frequently occurred. Conclusion Prescriptions of antidepressants for patients with psychosis hospitalized in Shanghai Mental Health Center from 2005 to 2008 are relatively safe and reasonable. Antidepressants of newer generation have been widely used in clinics, and SSRIs have been serving as the major antidepressants.

In this study we examined the in vitro characteristics of tenocyte adhesion to biologically-modified surface of polymer. Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) 85/15 films were prepared by a solvent-casting technique. Each film was adhered onto the bottom of a chamber. The film was precoated with poly-D-lysine (PDL), and then coated with serum-free F12 medium containing various concentrations of fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (CN I), and insulin-like growth factor1 (IGF-1). The monoclonal antibodies (to FN and to CN I) with various dilutions were used to inhibit attachment of tenocytes to surface precoated with FN or CN I. Human embryonic tendon cells (HETCs) and transformed human embryonic tendon cells (THETCs) were used as the seeding cells. The system used for the measurement of adhesion force was the micropipette aspiration experiment system. The micropipette was manipulated to aspirate a small portion of the tenocyte body by using a small aspiration pressure. Then the pipette was pulled away from the adhesion area by micromanipulation. The minimum force required to detach the tenocyte from the substrate was defined as the adhesion force. The results showed that modification of FN or CN I by precoating significantly enhanced attachment of tenocytes to surface of polymer (P < 0.05). As antibodies to FN or CN I were added to a polymer film precoated with FN or CN I, the adhesion force decreased significantly (P < 0.05). We concluded that the specific adhesion forces of tenocytes to extracellular matrix adhesion proteins (FN and CN I) had coordinated action and showed good dependence on their precoating concentrations, and were inhibited by the antibodies to these adhesion proteins. Films precoated with IGF-1 strongly accelerated the adhesion of tenocytes to polymer. These results indicate that the specific adhesion of tenocytes to polymer can be promoted by coating extracellular matrix adhesive proteins and insulin-like growth factor1. It is of great importance to construct tissue-engineered tendon.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; pharmacology ; Growth Substances ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Polylysine ; pharmacology ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Tendons ; cytology ; embryology ; physiology ; Tissue Engineering

The Modified silk fibroin membranes were prepared by mixing the aqueous solutions of both silk fibroin and chitosan with the use of oxidized glucose aldehyde as a crosslinking agent. It was characterized by FTIR, DSC, measurements of membrane-potential and mechanical properties, the water swelling ratios and permeability coefficient for model drug 5-Fu in the different pH buffer solutions. It was shown that there were some strong hydrogen bond interaction and good compatibility between silk fibroin and chitosan molecules in the modified silk fibroin films. The isoelectric point of modified fibroin film was about pH 5.35, but that of natural fibroin film was around pH 4.5. It was also found that the mechanical properties of modified fibroin films were much better than those of fibroin itself. Its tensile strength and breaking elongation were greatly enhanced with the increase of chitosan content and their maximum values were as high as 71.4-72.7 MPa and 2.96%-3.82% respectively, at the composition of 40 wt%-60 wt% chitosan. Its coefficient of permeability decreased firstly and then increased slowly with the change of the pH value of solutions from pH 5 to pH 9, and the minimum coefficient of permeability was observed when pH=7.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Membranes ; Silk ; chemistry

Objective To explore the microRNAs regulation of CXC chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) in patients with myasthenia gravis combined with thymic hyperplasia (MGH).Methods Thirteen MGH tissues and 13 normal thymus tissues,collected in our hospital from March 2012 to August 2013,were used in our study.Total RNAs from these tissues were extracted by trizol and hybridized with the microarray.The miRNAs targeting CXCL13 gene-3'untranslated region were predicted by using bioinformatics.Real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) was employed to detect the expressions ofCXCL13 mRNAs and microRNAs in thymus tissues.Luciferase assay was used to analyze the miRNAs modulated CXCL13 expression.Results The miRNA microarray chip analysis identified 33 miRNAs differentially expressed in MGH tissues as compared with those in the control group,miR-548k was one of most obvious down-regulated miRNAs (1.98 fold).Bioinformatical analysis indicated that miR-548k can target CXCL13 3' UTR.QRT-PCR showed that the expression of CXCL13 mRNA was up-regulated and miR-548k was down-regulated in thymus hyperplasia tissues of MGH group as compared with those in the control group(4.93±l.95 vs.1.04±0.20; 0.55±0.20 vs.1.33±0.36,P＜0.05); and they showed a negative correlation (r=-0.93,P=0).003).As compared with that in the control group (1.000±0.050),the luciferase activity of pmiR-RB-REPORTTM-CXCL13-3'UTR treated with miR-548k mimics (0.385±0.016) decreased 61.5％,with significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusion MiR-548k inhibits CXCL13 expression by post-transcriptional gene silencing to promote MG development and progression.

UV photolithography and hydrofluoric acid wet etching were used to produce silicon master molds and polydimethylsiloxane (PMDS)-based soft lithography was adopted to fabricate three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and PDMS microwell patterns with high aspect ratio and channel connection. Nine microwell patterns were thus obtained with different structural dimensions. Patterns were treated with oxygen plasma etching and polylysine coating to enhance hydrophilicity and cell compatibility for subsequent culture of C17. 2 neural stem cells. With proliferation during the culture, C17. 2 cells gradually distributed within the microwells, showing an obviously three-dimensional (3-D) growth behavior. The presence of channel structures greatly favored the 3-D growth of C17. 2 neural stem cells on the microwell patterns. Multi-layered scanning with confocal microscopy and 3-D rendering after carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) staining showed that most C17. 2 cells grew within a range of 30 to 90 microm from the microwell bottom. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that C17. 2 cells within 3-D microwell patterns were uniformly nestin-positive on day 2 after cell plating. It could well be concluded that the microwell patterns thus fabricated were suitable for the 3-D culture and subsequent differentiation of C17. 2 neural stem cells. And the cells can be maintained with uniform stemness properties while cultured in these microwell patterns.
Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; chemistry ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry