Objective To investigate the relationship between the C677T polymor-phism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene/G448A polymorphism of the

Objective To investigate the protective effect of taurine on HK-2 cells exposed to oxalate (Ox) and calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal (COM) in vivo.Methods HK-2 cells,a proximal tubular epithelial cell line,were cultured.Five groups were divided in this study:control group (only HK-2 cells) ; Ox and COM group (HK-2 cells + Ox + COM) ; Taurine group (HK-2 cells + Ox + COM + Taurine) ; Apocynin group (HK-2 cells + Ox + COM + Apocynin) ; Catalase group (HK-2 cells + Ox + COM +Catalase).After 6 hrs,the cultures medias from each group were tested for LDH,H2O2,8-isoprostane,and MCP-1 protein.Cellular expression of MCP-1 mRNA and P47phox mRNA were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.After 24 hrs,cells livability was investigated by MTT.Results Compared with the control,cells livability was reduced when exposed to Ox and COM (P ＜ 0.05),Treatment with Taurine,Apocynin and Catalase significantly increased the cells livability (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control,the expression of LDH,H2O2,8-isoprostane,and cellular expression of MCP-1 mRNA and P47phox mRNA were increased following exposure to Ox and COM (P＜0.01,P＜0.01,P＜0.01,P＜0.01,P ＜0.05).Treatment with Taurine,Apocynin and Catalase significantly reduced the expression of LDH,H2O2,8-isoprostane,as well as the cellular expression of MCP-1 mRNA.Expression of P47phox mRNA in Taurine group was not reduced significantly (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions This study showed that Taurine protected the HK-2 cells from oxidative injury exposed to Ox and COM by the pathway that may not be in relation to the inhibition of P47phox mRNA expression.

Objective To detect the serum level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after infliximab treatment and analyze the relevance between TRACP-5b and activity indexes of RA.The effect of different medicines on bony erosion in RA and its possible mechanism were explored.Methods Patients were divided into two groups:16 patients were treated with inffiximab for 24 weeks (group 1 ),25 patients were treated with MTX for 24 weeks (group 2).The core indicators of RA activity were evaluated.Ranked test,grouped design and matched t test was used to examine the quantity data between groups,while numerate data was analyzed with qui-square test.Correlation between data was tested by Spearmen's and Pearson's tests.RestltsThe levels of TRACP-5b in patients with X-ray stagesⅠ ,Ⅱ ,Ⅲ ,Ⅳ were elevated at the baseline.The levels of TRACP-5b in phase Ⅲ and Ⅳ were [(3.34±1.07) U/L] and[(4.05±0.25) U/L] respectively,higher (P＜0.05) than those in phase Ⅰ[(1.69±0.48) U/L].At week 0,week 12,and week 24,the serum levels of TRACP-5b in group 1 were(3.07±1.32),(2.72±1.18),(2.16±1.09) U/L respectively,while the levels in week 12,and 24 were significantly lower than those of week 0(P＜0.05).A significant decrease of serum TRACP-5b level in group 1[(2.16±1.09 ) U/L]when compared to group two[ (3.05±0.93) U/L] after 24 weeks.TRACP=5b level was positively correlated with the course of disease (r=0.313,P=0.043 ),HAQ(r=0.443,P=0.007).Conclusion Infliximab can reduce TRACP-5b level in RA and inhibit inflammatory bone loss.TRACP-5b can be used to evaluate the efficacy of biological agents in treating RA.

The effect of pH on the extracellularpolysaccharide synthesis by Aureobasidium pullulans was studied by addding CaCO3and HCI. Cultivated in P2 liquid medium for 24h,pH dropped to 3. 6 because of strongly producing acid. Under this low pH environment, further fermentation for 120h,only 5. 9g/L of polysacharide was obtained. When grown in MP2 medium contaning0. 5 % CaCOs,the pH was kept above 5.0 during 144 hours,production of polysaccharide increased to 31g/L. The detailed information of effects of controlled pH on polysaccharide production showed an optimal pH value 5. 0 must be maintained through the fermentative period.

Objective To analyze the clinical application of monoenergetic technique of dual-energy CT in removing metal artifacts for patients with fractures fixed with metal fixer.Methods Fofly-five patients with fractures fixed with metal fixer underwent dual-energy CT scanning for the fractures.Two different data were collected in one-time scanning using dual-energy scanning sequence.With monoenergetic technique,two different data at 100 and 140 kilovolts were used for subtraction to removing metal artifacts based on different densities.Raw data were reconstructed with monoenergetic technique(group A)and conventional simulation method(group B),respectively.And,all data were reconstructed with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR),volume rendering(VR)and maximum intensity projection(MIP),respectively.Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied for the comparison of imaging quality and artifacts between the two groups.Results There were fewer artifacts on the images due to the application of monoenergetic technique in dual-energy CT scanning.In group A,the rate of high-quality images reached to 91.9%(124/135);and,in group B,it was 59.3%(80/135).There were statistical diference between the two groups(Z=-12.541.P<0.01).The images without artifact reached to 89.6%(121/135)in group A;whereas,it was 45.2%(61/135)in group B.There was statistical difference between the two groups(Z=-11.910,P<0.01).Conclusion Using monoenergetic technique,metal artifacts were removed effectively and the fine structure of fracture was clearly displayed.

Objective: Fetal monitoring is extremely important in perinatal care. Analysis of cardiotocogragh(CTG) can suppose if the fetus is lack of oxygen, distressed, acidosis, etc. in order to take measures timely. Methods: We have designed Meticare analysis software package to analyze 867 pieces of CTG data, and researched the relationship between short term variation (STV) and basal heart rate(BHR) by statistics, and short time monitoring analysis based on STV. Results: The amplitude of fetal heart rate curve variation(long term variation) tended to decrease when BHR increasing, with the negative correlation and regression equation STV = 9.866-0.02×BHR. Positive correlation exists between 5 and 10 mimute-STV, with the regression equation STV_(10min)=2.861-0.596×STV_(5min).Conclusion: STV calculated by 5 minutes CTG data can forecast the one by 10 minutes data as a reference demanded by Dawes & Redman criterion. If fetal doppler contains STV analysis function, out-patient fetal heart auscultation will be more significant. After 30 weeks pregnancy, with the STV decreasing, fetal distress, asphyxia, low birth weight, and even mortality increasing. BHR increasing should cause attention that STV might decrease, when monitoring with no analysis functional devices or fetal dopplars.

Objective Through the observation on the distribution of hyperphosphorylated Tau,to investigate the connection between hyperphosphorylated Tau and learning, memory tasks. Furthermore, the treatment of App17 on brain tissues of diabetic mice. Methods Diabetic model mouse was produced in the use of streptozotion and App17 peptide as a curative was injected subcutaneously. Four weeks later, removed the brains. Immunohistochemical stainning was done with AT\|8, Tau\|1, again with Tau\|1 antibody after dephosphorylation. Results In the brains of diabetic mice positive AT\|8 reacting neurons were widely distribution in retrosplenial granular cortex, hippocampas, thalamus et al, the cytoplasm was darkly stained, while in normal mice and App17 peptide\|treated diabetic mice positive cells were localized in retrosplenial granular cortex, however, in hippocampas and RSG area, the cytoplasm were poorly stained. Conclusion Hyperphosphorylated Tau is widely expressed in brains of diabetic mice. App17 peptide can improve the hyperphosphorylated Tau in brains of diabetic mice, therefore, it may improve learning ability and memory.\;

Objective To make a comparison of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the diagnosis of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) in children.Methods One hundred and one patients admitted from February 2008 to April 2014 in Guangdong General Hospital primarily diagnosed with PAPVC with or without other congenital heart diseases were analyzed retrospectively,all the cases underwent routine TTE,which 74 cases underwent cardiac MSCT examination,and the TEE and cardiac MSCT diagnosis results were compared with final surgical findings,then the TTE and cardiac MSCT diagnosis accuracy was calculated.SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results All the patients underwent TTE examination,meanwhile,74 cases received cardiac MSCT examination.Ninety-three cases were confirmed by surgical findings,while 8 cases were misdiagnosed with PAPVC.Sixty-eight cases diagnosed by TTE coincided with surgical findings,and the diagnosis accuracy was 73.12％ (68/93 cases);65 cases diagnosed by cardiac MSCT coincided with surgical findings,and the diagnosis accuracy was 94.20％ (65/69 cases).Among the patients who received both TTE and cardiac MSCT examinations,66 cases were confirmed through final surgical operation,2 cases were mis-diagnosis,so the diagnosis accuracy was 97.06％ (66/68 cases).Conclusions In terms of the diagnosis accuracy of PAPVC,cardial MSCT examination is superior to TTE,as almost all of the cases could be diagnosed by TTE combined with cardial MSCT.In consideration of the acoustics window of children,apart from the conventional parasternal approach of detecting pulmonary veins,the importance of suprasternal and subcostal views should also be attached.

Objective To assess the therapeutic effects of flupentixol and melitracen tablets combined with Saccharomyces boulardii on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) accompanied with anxiety and depression.Methods This multi-center,randomized,prospective study enrolled 84 patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS who were divided into combined treatment group (42 patients) and control group (42 patients).Saccharomyces boulardii was administrated in both of the groups,and flupentixol and melitracen was added in combined treatment group.The treatment course was four weeks.The gastrointestinal symptoms and mood disorders were evaluated before treatment,one week and four weeks after treatment.Adverse reactions were also observed.Chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis.Results At the end of one week after treatment,the efficacy rates of gastrointestinal symptoms improvement of combined treatment group and control group were 31.0％ (13/42) and 23.8％ (10/42),and there was no statistically significant difference (P＞0.05).At the end of four weeks after treatment,the efficacy rate of gastrointestinal symptoms improvement of combined treatment group was 92.5％ (37/40),which was higher than that of control group (73.2％,30/41),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =5.291,P =0.037).At the end of one week after treatment,the efficacy rates of Hamilton Depression Scale score improvement of combined treatment group and control group were 31.6％ (12/38) and 12.1％ (4/33),and there was no statistically significant difference (P＞0.05).At the end of four weeks after treatment,the efficacy rates of Hamilton Depression Scale score improvement of combined treatment group was 63.9％ (23/36),which was higher than that of control group (34.4％,11/42),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =6.433,P=0.043).At the end of one week and four weeks after treatment,the efficacy rates of Hamilton Depression Scale score improvement of combined treatment group were 35.7％ (15/42) and 80.0％ (32/40),which were higher than those of control group (15.4％,6/39 and 34.2％,13/38),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =9.759,P=0.007; x2 =17.105,P＜0.01).One week after treatment,the adverse events rates of combined treatment group and control group were 4.8％ (2/42) and 4.8％ (2/42) ; four weeks after treatment,the adverse events rates of combined treatment group and control group were 2.5％ (1/40) and 2.4％ (1/41).There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events rates between two groups (both P＞0.05).Conclusions Flupentixol and melitracen combined with Saccharomyces boulardii treatment could not only improve the anxiety and depression symptoms of patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS,but also effectively improve gastrointestinal symptoms.The efficacy of combined treatment is better than monotherapy Saccharomyces boulardii alone treatment.

BACKGROUND:More and more evidence suggests that macrophages and inflammation reactions are involved in the formation and development of nephrolithiasis. Previous studies have found that calculi crystals can stimulate macrophages to release high mobility group protein B1.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the synergistic effect of high mobility group protein B1 in calcium phosphate induced release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages.
METHODS:(1) The induced U937 cells were respectively stimulated with RPMI (blank), 100 mg/L calcium phosphate, 100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 and 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 for 1, 2 and 4 hours to col ect cellsupernatant. (2) The induced U937 cells were respectively stimulated with 100 mg/L calcium phosphate, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+10μg/L high mobility group protein B1, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+50μg/L high mobility group protein B1, 100 mg/L calcium phosphate+100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 for 4 hours to col ect cellsupernatant. Levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 were determined by ELISA.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 in the cellculture supernatant of 100 mg/L calcium phosphate group and 100μg/L high mobility group protein B1 group were both higher than those in the blank group in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). The levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 in the cellculture supernatant of different concentrations of high mobility group protein B1 groups were al higher than those in the 100 mg/L calcium phosphate group in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). The results suggest that both calcium phosphate and high mobility group protein B1 can induce the release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages and the high mobility group protein B1 has the synergistic effect with calcium phosphate to induce interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factorαand monocyte chemotactic factor 1 from human macrophages.