OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of arecoline on hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats and to elucidate its possible mechanism.

METHODSForty five Wistar rats were fed with high fructose diet for 12 weeks to induce type 2 diabetic rat model. rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control group, model group and model group were treated with different dose (0, 0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg) of arecoline. After 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin level measured , mRNA expression of liver constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the protein expression of p-AKT and glucose transporter4 (GLUT4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS1.5 mg/kg arecoline could significantly decrease the level of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid, blood insulin level and liver G6Pase, PEPCK, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA level in type 2 diabetes rats. 1.5 mg/kg arecoline also could significantly increase CAR, PXR mRNA level and p-AKT and GLUT4 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONArecoline improved hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats by increasing the mRNA levels of CAR and PXR leading to the creased glucose metabolism and inflammation related genes expression.

Animals ; Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism ; Receptors, Steroid ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEGas chromatography (GC) was used to investigate the cellular fatty acid (CFA) composition of 141 Acinetobacter baumannii and 32 A. calcoaceticus isolates from different locations in China and to find chemical markers to differentiate these two closely related bacteria.

METHODSWhole cell fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were obtained by saponification, methylation, and extraction for GC analysis, followed by a standardized Microbial Identification System (MIS) analysis.

RESULTSAll A. baumannii and A. calcoaceticus strains contained some major fatty acids, namely, 18:1 ω9c, 16:0, Sum In Feature 3, 12:0, 17:1ω8c, 3-OH-12:0, 17:0, Sum In Feature 2, 2-OH-12:0, and 18:0 compounds. Although most of the total CFAs are similar between A. baumannii and A. calcoaceticus strains, the ratios of two pairs of CFAs, i.e., Sum In Feature 3/18:1 ω9c versus 16:0/18:1 ω9c and Sum In Feature 3/18:1 ω9c versus unknown 12.484/18:1 ω9c fatty acids, could differentiate these two closely related bacteria. A. baumannii could be easily classified into two subgroups by plotting some ratios such as Sum In Feature 3/16:0 versus 17:0 and Sum In Feature 3/2-OH-12:0 versus 17:0 fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONThe ratios of some CFAs could be used as chemical markers to distinguish A. baumannii from A. calcoaceticus.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; classification ; cytology ; metabolism ; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ; classification ; cytology ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Species Specificity

Objective To explore whether metformin preconditioning can protect brain injury after cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CA/CPR)and its possible mechanisms and signaling pathways.Methods Constructed a CA model by using electrical stimulation.Rats were randomly divided into the sham group(0.9％NaCl gavage daily for 14 days,without inducing CA),model group(CA model was induced after 0.9％NaCl gavage daily for 14 days),experimental group(CA model was induced after 200 mg·kg-1 Met+0.9％NaCl gavage daily for 14 days),Cc group[200 mg·kg-1 Met+0.9％NaCl gavage daily for 14 days,adenosine 5'-monophosphate kinase-activated protein(AMPK)inhibitor Compoud C(Cc)was injected intraperitoneally at 1 hour before modeling],chloroquine(CQ)group(daily 200 mg·kg-1 Met+0.9％NaCl gavage for 14 days,intraperitoneal injection of autophagy inhibitor CQ at 1 hour before modeling)and AICAR group(continuous daily 200 mg·kg-1 Met+0.9％NaCl gavage for 14 days,intraperitoneal injection of AMPK agonist AICAR at 1 hour before modeling).The 7-day survival rate after CA/CPR via using survival curves was recorded;the neurological function 7-days after CA/CPR was scored by using the neurological disability scale;the protein malondialdehyde(MDA)level were measured using the Coomassie Brilliant Blue method;detection of reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in brain tissue by using ROS fluorescent probe DHE;Western blotting was used to determine the expression levels of related proteins such as AMPK,p-AMPK,microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅰ(LC3 Ⅰ),LC3 Ⅱ,and p62 in brain tissue.Results The 7-day survival rates of sham,model,experimental,Cc,CQ and AICAR groups rats were 100％,40％,70％,40％,40％and 65％,respectively;the 7-day neurological function scores were 78.35±1.65,46.50±4.41,67.93±4.64,49.50±3.53,52.00±2.83 and 68.33±1.53,respectively;the ROS levels were(417.60±8.37),(748.60±36.05),(575.80±10.73),(713.80±18.85),(668.20±9.58)and(566.00±24.48)U·mg-1,respectively;the MDA levels were(4.38±0.33),(8.06±0.76),(5.50±0.48),(7.18±0.29),(6.82±0.31)and(5.20±0.34)nmol·mg-1,respectively;the brain tissue p-AMPK/AMPK were 0.74±0.04,0.87±0.01,1.61±0.01,0.55±0.05,1.09±0.09 and 1.27±0.07,respectively;the p62 values were 0.42±0.02,0.86±0.05,0.61±0.04,0.98±0.04 and 0.78±0.03,respectively;the LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 1 were 0.29±0.32,0.37±0.26,0.96±0.78,0.58±0.26,0.43±0.03 and 1.40±0.10,respectively.Compared with the model group,the differences of above indexes in the experimental group,AICAR group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05);compared with the experimental group,the differences of above indexes in the Cc group,CQ group were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Metformin preconditioning can play a protective role in brain injury after cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitationin in rats by activating the AMPK signaling pathway,regulating mitochondrial energy metabolism and promoting autophagy.

Objective To evaluate the effect of group health education for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients who received radiotherapy.Methods Eighty cases of previously untreated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who accepted radical radiotherapy from June 2009 to June 2010 were chosen as the control group,and 80 cases with the same conditions through June 2010 to June 2011 were chosen as the experimental group.The control group and experimental group were given oral health education and group health education respectively.The incidence of radiotherapy-related complications in patients who accepted two different methods of discharge guidance were compared.Results The improvement of patient compliance to rehabilitation guidance including regular reexamination,gargling,nasopharyngeal washing,mouth opening excise and neck excise was better in the experimental group than in the control group (85％ vs 68％,97％ vs 88％,99％ vs 70％,100％ vs 72％ and 95％ vs 60％),and the differences were statistically significant (X2 =6.892,5.766,25.079,25.507,12.822,respec.tively; P ＜ 0.05).The decreases in rate of complications including difficulty in mouth opening,neck movement restriction,sinusitis,otitis media and nasal bleeding were also better in the experimental group than in the control group (1.2％ vs 15.0％,1.2％ vs 5.0％,3.8％ vs 23.0％,1.2％ vs 12.0％ and 2.5％ vs 17.0％),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 ＝ 11.568,11.568,12.333,7.907,10.000,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Group health education can better meet the rehabilitation needs of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma,strengthen their subjective awareness of persisting in rehabilitation functional exercise,improve patient' s compliance and reduce the incidence of complications,so as to promote their rehabilitation and improve their life quality.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yishen Qingre Huashi Recipe (YQHR) in treating proteinuria of chronic glomerular disease patients with Pi-Shen deficiency complicated damp-heat syndrome (PSDCDHS).

METHODSTotally 121 stage 1 -2 primary chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS were randomly assigned to the treated group (85 cases) and the control group (36 cases) according to 2:1. All patients received conventional and symptomatic treatment. Patients in the treated group took YQHR additionally, while those in the control group took Losartan Potassium Tablet (50 mg each time, once per day) additionally. The therapeutic course for all was 6 months. Changes of 24 h urine protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine(SCr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were observed at different time points. And the difference in therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the control group after 6 months of treatment, 24 h urine protein obviously decreased in the treated group (P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in SCr, BUN, or eGFR between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (P >0. 05). The total effective rate after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment in the treated group was 77. 6% (66/85 cases), 82. 4% (70/85 cases), and 89. 4% (76/85 cases), respectively. They were 47. 2% (17/36 cases), 55. 6% (20/36 cases), and 61. 1% (22/36 cases) in the control group, respectively. Compared with before treatment in the treated group, the total effective effect after 6 months of treatment was higher than that after 2 months of treatment (χ2=4. 28, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group at the same time points, the total effective rate in the treated group after 2, 4, and 6 months of treatment was higher (χ2=10. 87, 9. 53, 13.16, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONYQHR could significantly lower proteinuria in chronic glomerular disease patients with PSDCDHS, improve the clinical effect, thereby providing clinical evidence for treating chronic glomerular disease proteinuria from resolving dampness and clearing heat.

Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; complications ; therapy ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Losartan ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Proteinuria ; etiology ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo explore miRNA expression change of differentiation of mice marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into adipocytes, which lay the foundation for further studies on molecular mechanism of miRNA regulating the differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes.

METHODSC57BL/6 mice MSCs were isolated, cultured through the whole bone marrow method, amplified by the differential adherent method. Cell growth was observed by morphology and the expression of superficial antigen CD29, CD44, CD34 were detected through immunohistochemistry. MSCs was induced to differentiation into adipocytes with adipocyte differentiation medium, and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs was analyzed by oil Red O staining. MicroRNA microarray was used to investigate the differentially expressed miRNAs in MSCs and adipocytes.

RESULTS(1) The fifth passage of MSCs had high purity under an inverted m icroscope. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that CD29, CD44 were positive and CD34 was negative in more than 90% MSCs. There were a large number of lipid droplets in cytoplasm after MSCs were induced with adipocyte differentiation medium, Oil O staining was positive. (2) The microarray experiment showed that 75 differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in adipocytes compared with MSCs, 20 up-regulated and 55 down-regulated miRNAs were observed among them.

CONCLUSIONThere was a expression change of miRNA of differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes, some miRNAs might play important roles in MSCs adipogenic differentiation.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hypertriglyceridemic waist to height ratio phenotype (HWHtR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a community population in South China.

METHODSA cross sectional study was conducted among 2142 residents in Zhuhai (Guangdong Province, China) from June to October of 2012. The HWHtR phenotype was defined as a waist to height ratio(WHtR) ≥0.55 and triglyceride level ≥2.0 mmol/L, based on which the participants were divided into HWHtR group and nonHWHtR group. CKD was defined as an eGFR<60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or an ACR ≥30 mg/g. A logistic regression model was established to investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease and HWHtR phenotype.

RESULTSCompared with the nonHWHtR group, the HWHtR group had a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (11.1% vs 33%, P<0.001). Analysis using the logistic regression model showed that HWHtR was significantly associated with CKD in the unadjusted analyses (OR=3.23, 95% CI: 2.32-4.48, P<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, drinking, physical exercise, education and current smoking, HWHtR was significantly associated with CKD (OR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.52-3.67, P<0.001); the association of HWHtR and CKD was still significant after further adjustment for BMI (OR=2.12, 95%CI: 1.34-3.35, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONOur finding suggests that HWHtR is associated with CKD in this community population.

OBJECTIVETo search for possible novel mutations in palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) gene in two Chinese babies with infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL).

METHODSTwo probands with INCL, confirmed clinically and pathologically, were used for mutation search in PPT1 gene. Onset of the disease occurred before the age of 1 year and they mainly showed progressive mental and motor retardation. The 9 coding exons and their flanking intron sequences of palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) gene were amplified by using PCR and sequenced. The parents of proband 1 were also examined.

RESULTSOne splicing mutation and two missense mutations were identified in the two probands: the proband 1 carrying a compound heterozygous mutation of a IVS1 + 1G-->A mutation in intron 1 and a c550G-->A mutation in exon 6 leading to the amino acid substitution of E184K. Additionally, the parents of the proband 1 also harbored one of the mutations of the patient, respectively. The proband 2 carrying a homozygous mutation of c272A-->C in exon 3, which resulted in the amino acid substitutions of Q91P.

CONCLUSIONSThe IVS1 + 1G-->A mutation and Q91P mutation are novel mutations, which lead to INCL. The genetic abnormalities of PPT1 in Chinese patients may not be completely the same as those in the patients of other regions of the world.

Age of Onset ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; Codon ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Introns ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses ; diagnosis ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Splice Sites ; Thiolester Hydrolases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist, on morphological changes in rat neurons after ischemic injury.

METHODSThe in vivo ischemia injury was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 2 h and reperfusion (R) for 24 h (OGD/R) in rat neurons primary culture and mixed cortex culture. In the presence or absence of various concentrations of montelukast, neuron number, area of neuron, number of neuritis per neuron, branch number of primary neuritis and primary neurite length were determined for evaluating morphological changes in neurons.

RESULTSOGD/R significantly reduced neuron number, and altered neuron morphology. In cortical neuron cultures, montelukast (0.0001-1 μmol/L) attenuated OGD/R-induced reduction in neuron number, and inhibited OGD/R-induced increase in branch number of primary neuritis. In the mixed cultures, montelukast (0.0001-0.1 μmol/L) increased the primary neurite length, and reduced number of neuritis and branch number of primary neurite after OGD/R.

CONCLUSIONMontelukast has a protective effect on ischemic injury in neurons.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Quinolines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of examination of cervical HPV infection in women in early pregnancy and postpartum.

METHODSUsing flow-through hybridization and gene chip techniques, we examined 3 806 cervical specimens of pregnant and postpartum women of different ages with different cervical diseases. The women were grouped into different age groups by every 5 years for HPV DNA genotyping of the specimens, with another 4080 women without pregnancy serving as the control.

RESULTSOf the total of 7886 specimens, high-risk HPV infection was detected a the rate of 12.5%. In pregnancy, postpartum and nonpregnancy, the infection rate was 14.3%,, 10.5%, and 11.7%, respectively. In the 4 age groups, the infection rate was 16.9%, 12.1%, 13.8%, and 22.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe high-risk HPV infection rate in pregnancy differs significantly from that in nonpregnancy and postpartum. The infection rate also differs with age during pregnancy and postpartum. Examination of HPV infection during pregnancy is safe and feasible.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult