Obesity-related diabetes and the metabolic syndrome are significantly related to increased adipose tissue mass.Understanding of the effect of adipose tissue on the metabolic regulation will play a key role in therapeutic strategies aimed to reduce obesity-induced insulin resistance and alleviate symptoms of the metabolic syndrome.Visfatin is a novel adipokine that appears to be preferentially produced by visceral adipose tissue and has insulin-mimetic actions.We discusse the relationship between visfatin and metabolic syndrome as well as future therapeutic strategies to these diseases.

[Objective] To study the effects of different growth periods on the contents of volatile oil and the curcumol in Curcuma aromatica Salisb. samples,which provided theoretical bases to control the quality of the crude drug of Curcuma aromatica Salisb.[Method]The contents of volatile oil in Curcuma aromatica Salisb. samples were determined by the method of Pharmacopeia,and HPLC method for determination of curcumol in different samples was established. [Result]The contents of volatile oil in different samples lied in the range of 0.820%～0.471%(g/g),and the contents of curcumol in different volatile oil samples were between 0.862%(g/g) and 1.380%(g/g). [Conclusion]Compared with the Curcuma aromatica Salisb. of a shorter growing period,the contents of longer growth period were higher.Different growing time had effects on the accumulating of volatile oil and the curcumol in Curcuma aromatica Salisb.

OBJECTIVETo explore the incidence, degree, and pattern of rib cartilage calcification in congenital microtia patients, in order to provide reference for harvesting the rib cartilage, sculpturing cartilage framework.

METHODSFrom Jun. 2013 to Nov. 2014, 383 patients (age range, 6-45 years) underwent CT scans of the chest. 11 patients with bony diseases or traumatic history were excluded. The remaining 372 patients were divided by age into four groups as 6-15, 16-25, 26-35, 36-45 years old. Twenty patients (10 male and 10 female) were selected by the order of patient identification number in each age group, thus selecting a total of 80 patients (40 male and 40 female). Retrospective study of CT scans of the chest in 80 patients and the incidence, degree, and pattern of cartilage calcification of the sixth to eighth ribs were noted. A chi-square test is conducted to test whether there are significant difference between the variables through the SPSS 19.0 software.

RESULTSOverall, 40.4% (194/480) cartilage was calcified; female patients (47.50%, 114/240) showed higher frequency of calcification than male patients (33.33%, 80/240, P = 0. 025). Calcification rates of all age groups are 1.7% (2/120), 46.7% (56/ 120), 49.2% (59/120), 64.2% (77/120). Calcification rate of 6-15 years group is lowest in all groups (P < 0.05) while other three groups have no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Calcification rates of the sixth and sevent rib cartilage were higher than those of the eighth rib cartilage in all age groups except 6-15 years group, who had a similar rate of all three ribs. Calcification rate of all three rib cartilage was significantly increased with age. Calcification rates of the amle's rib cartilage and the female's in all age groups are 3.3% (2/60) and 0.0% (0/60) (6-15 years): 33.3% (20/60) and 60.0% (36/60) (16-25 years): 40.0% (24/60) and 58.3% (35/60) (26-35 years), 56.7% (34/60) and 71.2% (43/60) (36-45 years). In 6-15 years group calcification rates of male and female had a similar rate, while female's rates were higher than male's rates in other three groups. Male and females mainly had the granular type of calcification [70.0% (56/80), 63.2% (72/114)].

CONCLUSIONSFemales who are over 16 years old should pay more attention to the possibility of middle-severe calcification before harvesting rib cartilage. These patients should take CT examination if necessary. In addition, the patients who had previous operation, or traumatic history, rib deformity, or spine deformity should select the CT examination.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Cartilage Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Child ; Congenital Microtia ; Costal Cartilage ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of the method by using an expanded post-auricular skin flap combined with autologous rib cartilage framework for correction of concha-type microtia.

METHODSThe operation were performed in three stages. The expander was implanted under post-auricular skin at the first stage and expanded skin flap was formed. At the second stage, the expander was taken out and the expanded skin flap was transferred with autologous rib cartilage framework and skin graft for correction of microtia. At the third stage, the reconstructed ear was revised and new concha was formed.

RESULTSFrom August 2008 to August 2011, 108 cases with 113 concha-type microtia were corrected by this method. All patients healed primarily and were followed up for 6 months to 3 years. The reconstructed ears had a good appearance and position, and were symmetric to ear on the healthy sides.

CONCLUSIONSUsing expanded post-auricular skin flap combined with autologous rib cartilage framework is a reliable method for concha-type microtia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cartilage ; transplantation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Ribs ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Expansion ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective:To evaluate the anti-metastatic and bone preserving therapeutic effects of herbal medicine extraction on rat model of bone metastatic carcinoma.Methods:A rat model of cancer-induced bone pain using the MRMT-1 cell line injected into the tibia was established to investigate the efficacy of the herbal medicine extraction,on osteoclast activity and bone mineral density.The development of the bone tumor and structural damage to the bone was monitored by radiological analysis.Specimens of the tibial bone were processed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)stain to observe the bone pathological changes and count TRAP stained osteoclasts.OPG and RANKL expression was evaluated by immunohistological methord.Results:Histological and radiological examination showed that the herbal medicine extraction significantly inhibited tumor proliferation and preserved the cortical and trabecular bone structure.In addition,a dramatic reduction of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-positive polykaryocytes(osteoclasts)and increase of OPG expression were observed.Conclusions:The herbal medicine extraction was an anti-metastatic and bone preserving therapeutic effects in a rat model of metastatic cancer pain.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA)measures the body composition and its change by the electric feature of the extracellular fluid and intracellular fluid.It has been widely used for its noninvasiveness, convenience and accuracy, especially in population epidemiology and clinical monitoring.We aim to review the advantages and shortcomings,and try to discuss about the application of this technique and its potential.

Objective To evaluate the analgesic effects of herbal medicine extraction on bone cancer pain of rat models. Methods Rat models of cancer-induced bone pain was established by using the MRMT-1 cell line injected into the tibia. Changes of behavioral signs indicative of pain including 50% paw withdrawal threshold (von Frey tactile sensitivity test)and thermal withdrawal latency were observed. The cellular reorganization of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was measured by histological analysis. Results In the behavioural tests, herbal medicine treatment attenuated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Histological examination showed that herbal medicine inhibited DRG neuronal nuclear and somatic size reduction with nucleolar segregation. Conclusion The herbal medicine extraction was an anti-nociceptive agent in rat models of bone cancer pain.

AIM:To investigate the expressions of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase(MTAP)and ornithine decarboxylase(ODC)in human ovarian cancer.METHODS:60 fresh samples of ovarian cancer were collected.The expressions of MTAP mRNA and protein were analyzed by using RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.ODC activity was measured by high performance liquid chromatography.RESULTS:The expression levels of MTAP mRNA and protein in ovarian cancer were lower than those of control.In 9 of the 60 samples(15%)there were absence of detectable MTAP mRNA and protein.No significant relevance was found between the expression of MTAP and clinical pathologic features.ODC activity in ovarian cancer was(3.82?1.03)U,which was higher than that of normal ovarian tissues(1.38?0.59)U.ODC activity was related with tumor grade.In MTAP-deficiency ovarian cancer tissues ODC activity was significantly increased when compared with that of MTAP-expressing ovarian cancer samples.CONCLUSION:Down-regulated MTAP expression and up-regulated ODC activity really exist in ovarian cancer.Activation of ODC resulting from MTAP deletion may be one of the pathogenetic factors of ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics and incidence of the thoracic deformities in patients with microtia.

METHODSIn Plastic Surgery Hospital, we conducted a retrospective study of the clinical and radiographical data of 300 patients with microtia from March 2013 to October 2014. Pearson χ2 test was used to analyze the relationship among deformities of ribs and spine, as well as microtia.

RESULTSA total of 78 (26.0%) patients were documented with rib deformities, 26 patients (8.7%) had spinal deformities, and 17 patients (5.7% )had both. The incidence of rib deformities in microtia I, II, and III was 7.1% (2/28), 26.7% (62/232) and 35.0% (14/40) respectively. The incidence of spinal deformities in microtia I, II, and III was 3.6% (1/28), 6.5% (15/232) and 25.0% (10/40 respectively. The patients with microtia III were found to have a higher incidence of ribs and spinal deformities than those with microtia II, patients with microtia II were found to have a higher incidence of ribs and spinal deformities than those with microtia I (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of ribs and spinal deformities is high in patients with microtia. The poorer one auricle developed, the higher the incidence of thoracic deformities.

Biomedical Research ; Congenital Microtia ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; abnormalities ; Spine ; abnormalities

AIM: To investigate the relationships between antiproliferative mechanisms of probucol and protein expressions of signaling molecules ERK1/2, MKP-1, HO-1 and Trx-1 in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) stimulated with ox-LDL. METHODS: The effects of probucol on cell cycle, cell proliferation and the expressions of ERK1/2, MKP-1, HO-1 and Trx-1 in the presence of ox-LDL were observed by means of MTT test, FCM and Western blotting. RESULTS: (1) Probucol significantly inhibited the proliferation of RASMCs stimulated with ox-LDL. A value in 100 μmol/L probucol+35 mg/L ox-LDL group was reduced by 34.9% as compared to ox-LDL group (P<0.01). (2) Probucol protected against ox-LDL-induced RASMCs proliferation through inducing cell growth arrest at G_0/G_1 phase and cell apoptosis. (3) ox-LDL increased the expression of p-ERK1/2 by 34.7% (P<0.01) and decreased MKP-1 by 60.0% (P<0.01), respectively, as compared to control. Probucol attenuated the increase in ox-LDL-stimulated p-ERK1/2 level by 15.7%, but increased MKP-1 expression by 2 times (P<0.01). (4)ox-LDL at concentration of 35 mg/L decreased the intracellular Trx-1 expression by 28.9% (P<0.05), and slightly increased the level of HO-1 expression as compared to control (P<0.05). Probucol enhanced the expression of Trx-1 by 91.6% (P<0.01) and HO-1 by 31.9% (P<0.01), respectively as compared to ox-LDL group. CONCLUSION: Probucol inhibits ox-LDL-stimulated the proliferation of RASMCs through increases in MKP-1/HO-1 expression, suppression of cell cycle progression and induction of cell apoptosis.