BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that hyperhomocysteinemia can induce atherosclerosis by enhancing oxidative stress, whereas Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) can scavenge oxygen-derived free radicals.OBJECTIVE: To observe the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) induced by homocysteine (Hcy), and investigate the effect of GbE.DESIGN: A randomized controlled animal trial.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERrALS: Twenty-four healthy male rabbits of 6 months old. Dl-methionine (Sigma Chemical, Co.,Ltd.); GbE (Guizhou Yibai Pharmaceutical Company; powder).METHODS: The experiment was accomplished in the Laboratory of Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from March 2003 to April 2004. ① After adaptive feeding for 2 weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Model group (n =12): The rabbits were treated with subcutaneous injection of dl-methionine (80 mg/kg per day); GbE group (n =8): The rabbits were administrated with GbE (mixed with feed, 50 m/kg per day) at 1 hour before the subcutaneous injection of dl-methionine; Control group (n=4): The rabbits were injected with equivalent sodium chloride. They were administrated for 7 weeks continuously. ②Histological changes were observed under light and electron microscopes: ROS level was determined with colorimetries (721 visible spectrophotometer); The expressions of CAMs and NF-κB in endothelial cells were detected with immunohistochemical methods; The concentration of plasma Hcy was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Histological changes, ROS level and expressions of CAMs and NF-κB in endothelial cells.RESULTS: All the 24 rabbits were involved in the analysis of results. ① ROS level: After administration, the ROS level in the model group was obviously increased (2.92±0.20,2.48±0.26, P ＜ 0.05), whereas those in the GbE group and control group (2.41±0.23, 2.43±0.20) had no obvious differences as compared with those before administration (2.31±0.27,2.47±0.32, P ＞ 0.05). ② Histological changes: Aortas of rabbits in the model group presented initial changes of atherosclerosis, including shedding or necrosis of endothelial cells and nuclear pyknosis or standing in a clutter of smooth muscle cells. There were scarcely any changes in the GbE group and control group. ③ Expressions of CAMs and NF-κB in endothelial cells: After treatments, the expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and NF-κB in the model group were obviously higher than those in the control group (P ＜0.05), and there were no significant differences between the GbE group and control group (P ＞ 0.05). ④ Concentration of plasma Hcy: After 7 weeks, the concentration of plasma Hcy was higher in the model group and GbE group than in the control group [(25.01±6.80), (26.71±2.36), (16.85± 1.64) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Hcy-induced oxidative stress plays an important role in NF-κB activation. GbE might suppress the activation of NF-κB and expression of CAMs by reducing ROS.

Poly (β-amino ester)s (PβAEs) contain tertiary amine backbones and biodegradable ester bonds, making them highly biocompatible and pH-responsive. Meanwhile, originated from combinatorial libraries, PβAEs are simple to synthesize, easy to obtain raw materials and can be easily adapted to meet the different performance needs of gene carriers by adjusting the monomer type, monomer ratio and reaction time. Therefore, PβAEs are promising material for non-viral gene carriers. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the properties and synthesis of PβAEs gene carriers and summarizes the progress of research on the gene delivery of each type of PβAEs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of male age on the pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 7,533 cycles of IVF-ET performed between January 1, 2009 and October 31, 2013. We divided the samples into three groups according to the female age (< 30, 30-34, and 35-38 yr), each again subdivided into six groups based on the male age (< 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr). We compared the rates of implantation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth among different age groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences in basal E2, FSH, endometrium thickness on the day of hCG administration, number of oocytes retrieved, and days of embryo transfer among different male age groups (P > 0.05). The implantation rate showed an age-dependent decrease in the < 30, 30-32, 33-35, 36-38, 39-41, and ≥ 42 yr male groups, 41.1, 42.0, 39.5, 31.3, 40.7, and 48.6% among the women aged < 30 years (P < 0.05), 40.3, 36.4, 35.1, 35.3, 29.4, and 37.3% among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), and 48.2, 17.8, 25.3, 23.5, 22.1, and 23.8% among the women aged 35-38 years (P < 0.05). The miscarriage rate was significantly higher in the ≥ 39 yr than in the 30-32 and 33-35 yr male age groups among the women aged 30-34 years (P < 0.05), but showed no remarkable differences among the other male age groups in the women aged < 30 and 35-38 years (P > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the rates of pregnancy and live birth among different male age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMale age has some influence on the rates of implantation and miscarriage but not on the rates of pregnancy and live birth in IVF-ET.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; epidemiology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Objective To evaluate the quality of life (QOL)among patients with anti -TB treatment in Zhoushan city and to analyze the influence factors.Methods Our self -designed questionnaire and WHOQOL -BREF scale were used to investigate the general information and the quality of life among 187 tuberculosis patients.Scores of life quality under different conditions were compared.Results The scores of physiological domain,psychological domain,social relations and environmental domains were 61.13 ±13.12,53.24 ±16.59,59.91 ± 12.08 and 60.12 ± 15.68 respectively. The scores of all domains excluding the environmental relations were significantly lower than the normal level (P <0.05). The scores of males were significantly higher than females in psychological domain (P <0.05),and the score differences among age groups were of statistical significance both in physiological domain and psychological domain (both P <0.05). Those with high education levels scored higher than those with lower education level in psychological and social domains (both P <0.05).The scores of different economic income in 4 domains showed significant differences (all P <0.05). The first time treated,hospitalization time less than 1 month and effectively treated patients scored higher than those not (all P <0.05).Conclusion The quality of life among tuberculosis patients could be influenced by sex,age,income, education,and treatment factors,so appropriate health care such as psychological support and health education should be provided.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Objective To construct the recombinant plasmid carrying shRNA to ATX and analyze the nucle- ic acid sequence for further searching new gene therapy method of tumor.Methods Two DNA sequences containing short hairpin structure were designed and synthesized.The complement form was obtained by annealing and inserted into vector Psilcncer2.1-U6 neo,and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into DH5a strain.Finally the plasmid identified by restriction enzyme was used for sequence analysis.Results The recombinant Psileneer2.1-U6 neo car- rying shRNA to ATX had been constructed and the aim sequence had been obtained.Conclusion The construction of the recombinant plasmid carrying shRNA to ATX lays the basis for the study of its inhibitive effect on tumor.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

AIM:By analyzing optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and comparing the differences of CSC between OCTA and indocyanine green angiography(ICGA), to explore if OCTA can substitute ICGA for diagnosis of CSC patients, and guide the treatment of photodynamic therapy (PDT).METHODS: We reviewed 30 eyes of 30 patients with CSC, who were diagnosed by fluorescein angiography (FFA) and ICGA at Beijing Tongren Eye Center from November 2015 to March 2016.All patients underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, intraocular pressure, slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, FFA, ICGA and OCTA.FFA and ICGA were captured by Spectralis HRA + OCT (Spectralis HRA + OCT;Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).OCTA was performed by RTVue XR Avanti device (OptovueInc, Fremont, CA) with 6mm×6mm Angio Retina mode.The software (version 2017.100.0.1;OptovueInc) automatically segmented the tissue into four layers, the characteristics of choriocapillaris layer were analyzed.At the same time, the differences between OCTA and ICGA images were compared among CSC patients.The maximum diameters and areas of both choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA and high flow signal in OCTA were measured.Then, the paired t test was used to analyze the differences between the maximum diameter and area of OCTA and ICGA measurement.RESULTS: Among 30 cases, high blood flow signals of OCTA were clearly visible in 27 cases, namely the coarse grain region;the inner low flow signals surrounded by high blood flow signals were seen in 21 cases;the outer low flow signals surrounding high blood flow signals were seen in 7 cases.High blood flow signals of OCTA were corresponded with the choroidal hyperperfusion of ICGA images;among these 30 cases, there were low reflection shadows in choroidal hyperperfusion with ICGA for 22 cases, for 21 cases out of these 22 cases, low flow signals inside of high flow signals of OCTA could be seen;9 out of 30 cases, there were low reflection halo outside of choroidal hyperperfusion of ICGA, and 7 out of these 9 cases, low flow signals outside of high flow signals of OCTA could be seen;still for those 30 cases, leakage point in late ICGA could be seen with 14 cases, however, special flow signals in OCTA could not be seen for them.For ICGA, the maximum diameter of choroidal hyperperfusion was 1.589±0.295mm, whose area was 0.705±0.131mm2;while for OCTA, the maximum diameter of high flow signal was 1.576±0.293mm, whose area was 0.745±0.138mm2.By using paired t test, there was no statistical difference between the maximum diameter of choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA and the maximum diameter of high flow signal in OCTA, nor difference between the area of ICGA and OCTA.CONCLUSION: The high flow signals can be clearly visible in OCTA, which are corresponded with choroidal hyperperfusion in ICGA.OCTA can substitute ICGA for diagnosis of CSC patients, and guide the treatment of PDT.

Objective To investigate the correlation between angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene polymorphism and kawasaki disease(KD).Methods A 287 bp Alu fragment in intron 16 of the ACE gene was used as insertion(I)/deletion(D) polymorphism marker. The ACE genotype of 28 children (10 children complicated coronary dilataltion) with KD and 35 healthy controls were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and ACE concentration in blood serum was measured by ultraviolet-spectrophotometer assay.Results 1.The ACE concentration was significantly higher in KD group than that in healthy control group(P

Objective To explore the clinical and pathological feature of pediatric chronic gastritis and whether gastritics in children related to hericobacter pylori(Hp).Methods Retrospective analysis the result of 401 children with gastroendosopy and 100 species with Hp detected were performed.Results Superficial gastritis form mild to moderate was the mainly pathologic change in pediatric chronic gastritis,chronic inflammation was the mainly change in pediatric Hp infection,and the detected rate of chronic superficial gastritis from mo-(derate) to heavy was significantly higher than mild(?~2=7.61 P