Objective Study the effects of early overfeeding in the adult offspring of mother with severely hyperglycaemia in pregnancy to islet development and insulin resistance. Methods Thirty healthy female Wistar rats were mated with 10 male Wistar rats and the morning on which sperm were found in three different visual fields of the vaginal smear was designated pregnancy day 1. The pregnant rats were intraperitoneally administered with Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/L) on 5th day of pregnancy, and blood glucose exceeded 20 mmol/L to induce severely gestational diabetes mellitus (SDM) model. The pregnant Wistar rats were assigned to two experimental groups: SDM (n = 16) and control (n = 8). Litter size reduction in the lactation period induced early postnatal overfeeding model. Offspring were divided into three groups according to the level of blood glucose in pregnancy and feeding patterns in lactation: ( 1 ) control group (CG):euglycemia in pregnancy, eight pups in lactation;(2) severely gestational diabetes mellitusnormal feeding (SDM-N):severely gestational diabetes mellitus, eight pups in lactation; (3) severely gestational diabetes mellitus-overfeeding (SDM-O): severely gestational diabetes mellitus, four pups lactation. At the end of the lactation period, all pups were fed standard laboratory chow adlibitum until the date of the experiments. Offspring body weight was measured weekly after ablactation. Serum insulin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pancreatic islet morphology was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in all three groups at 26 weeks of age. Results (1) Blood glucose of pregnant Wistar rats: SDM (28.3 ±5.1 ) mmol/L was statistically higher than control (6.3 ± 1.4) mmol/L ( P ＜ 0.05 ). (2) Growth rates of body weight in 3 - 7 weeks and 3 - 9 weeks: SDM-N: (4. 6 ± 1.3) % and (6.8±2.5)%, SDM-O:(3.2±0.7)% and(4.6±1.2)%,CG:(2.9 ±0.6)% and(4.1 ±0.8)%.The growth rates of body weight in SDM-N and SDM-O were both significantly higher than those in CG ( P ＜0.05 ). (3) Body weight at 26 weeks: CG: (486 ± 132) g, SDM-N: ( 387 ± 115 ) g, SDM-O: ( 382 ± 122) g.There was no statistical difference among the three groups (P ＞0.05). (4) Fasting plasma glucose ( FPG),fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI): at 26 weeks, the SDM-offspring has nomal FPG, but more insulin was needed to keep it normal. The insulin level of SDM-O[ ( 12.6 ± 3.3) mU/L ] was statistically higher than those of SDM-N [ ( 10.9 ± 3.3 )mU/L] and CG [ ( 8.6 ± 0.8 ) mU/L ] ( P ＜ 0.05 ). The ISI of SDM-O ( 0.020 ± 0.006 ) was significantly smaller than its HOMA-IR(2.40 ±0.62,P ＜0.05). (5)The morphological change of pancreatic islet: The islets of CG and SDM-N were round or ellipse and have clear boundary between endocrine and exocrine parts and the β cells distributed equally. However, SDM-O islets were not of uniform size and most of islets were hyperplasia and hypertrophy. (6) Relative β cell area of pancreas, β-cell area and islet size: SDM-O:(1.81 ±0.31)%, (57.1 ±3.2)% and(39 067 ±3308)μm2; SDM-N:(1.34 ±0.43)%,(60.9 ±0.6)% and ( 30 570 ± 4824 ) μm2; CG: ( 1.11 ± 0.26 )%, ( 63.7 ± 2.7 )% and ( 26 443 ± 4431 ) μm2.SDM-O has significantly increasing β-cell mass, hypertrophic islet size and slightly decreasing β-cell percentage compared with other two groups (P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions The exposure of severely hyperglycemia in pregnancy induces low weight infant and postnatal catch-up growth leading to the possibility of insulin resislance (IR) in adult and early postnatal overfeeding will accelerate such course. Islet morphology of SDM-N has no significant change, indicating that maternal diabetes mainly affected β-cell function but not islet morphological features. SDM overfeeding results in early impairment of islet morphology and function, indicating that the compensation ability of islets has already been impaired and the risk of further development of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes. In conclusion, the nutritonal environment in early life ( duration of pregnancy and lactation) participate in the metabolic programming in adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different pattens of intermittent hypoxia on the activity and apoptosis of primary cultured rat embryonic cortical neurons, and to evaluate the role of intermittent hypoxia in the mechanism of obstructive sleep syndrom induced cognitive function loss. METHOD: The embryonic cerebral cortical neurons were cultured in vitro and were identified by immunofluorescence. Cultured neurons were randomly divided into intermittent hypoxia group, intermittent normal oxygen group, persistent hypoxia group and the control group, and intermittent hypoxia group was divided into five subgroups according to different frequency and time-bound. Neurons were exposed in different modes of hypoxia. MTT colorimetry was used to detect the viability of the neurons, and DAPI colorated measurement was used to calculate the percentages of neuron apoptosis. RESULT: There were significantly different effects between all subgroups of intermittent hypoxia and the continued hypoxia group on neuronal activity and apoptosis (P < 0.01); Intermittent hypoxia groups with different frequency and time had no difference in neuronal activity and apoptosis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The effect of intermittent hypoxia was more serious than that of continued hypoxia on neuronal activity and apoptosis; The impact of intermittent hypoxia on neuronal activity and apoptosis may be an important factor in obstructive sleep apnea related cognitive impairment.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cognition Disorders ; Neurons ; cytology ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

Objective To study the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs).Methods Sixty patients with a temporomandibular joint disorder were randomly divided into an ESWT group and a control group,each of 30.Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training,but the treatment group additionally received ESWT for 2 weeks.Fricton's index was used to evaluate temporomandibular joint function.The subjects used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate their pain levels.The SF-36 scale was applied to assess their life quality.Results After two weeks of treatment,the average assessment score and VAS score had decreased significantly in both groups.After treatment the average scores for mandibular movement,muscle palpation,joint noise and joint palpation,and the palpation,dysfunction and craniomandibular indexes were all significantly lower in the ESWT group than in the control group.Significant differences were also found in the average VAS scores and on the social functioning domain of the SF-36 between the ESWT group and the control group.Conclusion ESWT combined with rehabilitation training can significantly relieve the symptoms and pain of TMDs.

Objective To investigate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with swallowing training for relieving dysphagia in stroke patients.Methods A total of 150 chronic stroke patients at least 3 months post-stroke who were afflicted with dysphagia were randomly and evenly divided into a conventional swallowing training group,an NMES group,and an NMES combined with conventional swallowing training group.Prior to and after treatment,surface electromyography (sEMG) signals from the swallowing muscles were detected,swallowing function was evaluated using the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA),their swallowing was studied videofluoroscopically (VFSS),and a swallowing-related quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) was administered.Results There were significant differences in the maximum amplitude of sEMG signals,and the scores on the SSA,VFSS and SWAL-QOL in both groups between prior to and after treatment.After 4 weeks of treatment,the maximum amplitude of the sEMG signals and all three assessment scores were significantly higher where NMES had been combined with conventional swallowing training group compared with the other two groups.Indeed,there was no significant difference between the group which had received conventional swallowing training and the NMES groups.The analysis of coefficients revealed correlation between sEMG maximum amplitude and the SSA,VFSS and SWALQOL results.Conclusions NMES combined with conventional swallowing training is helpful for improving swallowing function in chronic stroke patients with dysphagia.

OBJECTIVE:To observe clinical efficacy and safety of tanshinone combined with limbal stem cells transplantation in the treatment of pterygium. METHODS:Totally 97 cases (118 eyes) of primary pterygium admitted into our hospital during Feb. 2010-Sept. 2014 were analyzed retrospectively,and divided into observation group (48 cases,57 eyes) and control group (49 cases,61 eyes). Both groups received autologous limbal stem cell transplantation. The control began to give Tobramycin and dexamethasone eye drops 1-2 drop 1 week before surgery,every 4-6 h one times. Observation group was given Tanshinone cap-sules 0.5 g,po,tid,one week before surgery,for 3 months. Repair time of corneal epithelium and local symptom regression time were compared between 2 groups. Corneal astigmatism and corrected visual acuity were observed in 2 groups before and 1,3 months after surgery. The occurrence of recurrence and ADR was analyzed statistically in 2 groups. RESULTS:The repairing time of corneal pithelial and local symptom regression time in observation group were significantly shorter than control group,with statis-tical significance (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in corneal astigmatism and corrected visual acuity between 2 groups before and one month after surgery (P>0.05). 1,3 months after surgery,corneal astigmatism of 2 groups was decreased significantly and corrected visual acuity was increased significantly than before surgery,and 3 months after surgery the observation group was significantly better than the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). The recurrence rate of observation group was 3.51%,which was significantly lower than 14.75% of control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Tanshinone combined with autol-ogous limbal stem cell transplantation in the treatment of pterygium can shorten the time of corneal epithelial repair and local symp-toms,restore the visual function of patients and reduce recurrence rate with good safety.

Objective To explore the relationship between cognitive function and oxidative stress biochemical markers in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods One hundred forty-six patients who met the DSM-Ⅳ bipolar disorder diagnostic criteria including 83 patients with stable phase,42 patients with manic episodes and 21 patients with depression and 115 normal controls were recruited. Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was used to assess cognitive function. Biochemical indicators were measured including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), catalase (CAT), malonaldehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and nitric oxide (NO). Results The immediate memory, speech function, attention, time-delay memory, and total score of patients in biphasic stable phase, manic phase, and depression were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The visual breadth scores of patients in manic and depression were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), and the attention scores and total scores were lower than those in the stable group (P<0.01). The delayed memory score of patients with depression was lower than that of stable group (P=0.04). The MDA level of patients with manic episode and depression was higher than that of stable group (P<0.01); the level of NO in manic, depression and control group was higher than that in stable group, and CAT level was low in the stable phase group (P<0.05). In the stable phase group, the visual breadth (r=-0.50, P=0.04), attention (r=-0.67, P<0.01), delayed memory (r=-0.61, P=0.01) were correlated with GSH-PX respectively; time-delay memory was negatively correlated with T-AOC (r=-0.54, P=0.03). The speech function of the biphasic mania phase group was negatively correlated with SOD (r=-0.46, P=0.01). The immediate memory of the biphasic depression group was positively correlated with NO (r=0.61, P=0.02); delayed memory was positively correlated with CAT (r=0.67, P=0.01); speech function (r=-0.76, P<0.01) and cognitive total score (r=-0.59, P=0.03) were negatively correlated with GSH-PX. Conclusion Patients with bipolar disorder have varying degrees of cognitive decline and oxidative stress changes, and some antioxidant enzyme systems are associated with cognitive function.

Objective To compare the transfection efficiency between different transfection methods in human HepG2 and SGC7901/ADM cells so as to provide experimental basis for further study .Methods To electrons fect the enhanced GFP plasmid into HepG2 and SGC7901/ADM cells by lipofection and electroporation methods ,respectively .The survival rates and transfection efficiency were analyzed .Results The efficiency of eGFP vector transfected into HepG2 cells by lipofection was (23 .8 ± 2 .1)% , compared with lipofection method ,the efficiency of eGFP plasmid transfected by electroporation was up to (49 .6 ± 2 .5)% ,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0 .05) .The efficiency of SGC7901/ADM cells by lipofection was (25 .4 ± 1 .3)% ,com‐pared with lipofection method ,the efficiency of electroporation was up to(52 .6 ± 2 .1)% ,and the difference was statistically signifi‐cant(P<0 .05) .This study provides reliable test parameters for electransfection of HepG2 and SGC7901/ADM cells .Conclusion The transfection efficiency of large fragment vector is efficiently improved by electroporation .

Objective To investigate the correlation between fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene polymorphism and endemic fluorosis.Methods In Bijie City,Guizhou Province coal-burning-borne high fluoride areas,148 patients with fluorosis were selected as endemic fluorosis group;in non high fluoride areas of Changshun County of Guizhou Province,134 healthy people were selected as control group.Short tandem repeats (STRs)-PCR was utilized to detected the FGFR2 rs35668561 and D10S14839 microsatellite polymorphisms in endemic fluorosis cases and controls.Results FGFR2 rs35668561 461 bp (22AG)allele frequency of endemic fluorosis group (1.01％) was significantly lower than that of the control group (3.36％,x2 =5.29,P ＜ 0.05).FGFR2 D10S14839 286 bp (9GT),300 bp (16GT),310 bp (21GT) and 314 bp (23GT) allele frequency in the endemic fluorosis group were 14.53％,11.82％,16.89％ and 8.11％,in the control group were 22.01％,6.34％,8.96％ and 16.42％,the difference was statistically significant.Then 300 bp (16GT)and 310 bp (21GT)allele frequency of endemic fluorosis group was significantly higher than that of the control group (x2 =6.82,7.77,all P ＜ 0.05),and 286 bp (9GT),314 bp (23GT) allele frequency of endemic fluorosis group was significantly lower than that of the control group (x2 =5.32,9.16,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions FGFR2 rs35668561 and D10S14839 polymorphism are associated with endemic fluorosis.FGFR2 rs35668561 461 bp (22AG) allele may be a protective factor of endemic fluorosis.D10S14839 300 bp (16GT) and 310 bp (21GT) allele may be risk factors of endemic fluorosis,286 bp (9GT) and 314 bp (23GT) allele may be protective factors of endemic fluorosis.

Objective To study the validity and reliability of Tengdao's swallowing standard for stroke pa-tients with dysphagia.Methods A total of 128 patients with postroke dysphagia took the swallowing test and then were divided into three sub-groups.Their scores on Tengdao's evaluation and their fluoroscopy results were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient.Intra-class coefficients (ICCs)were used to examine the intra-rater and in-ter-rater reliability of Tengdao's evaluation.Results TenIgdao's evaluation possessed good validity and reliability.There was a high correlation between the scores in Tengdao's evaluation and fluoroscopy results. Conclusions Tengdao's evaluation is valid,reliable,simple and safe.It can be used in the clinic to evaluate the stroke patients with dysphagia.

Objective To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antagonists on liver function and reactivation of hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) in patients with inflammatory arthropathy with concurrent chronic HBV infection.Methods Patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who were grouped according to serum HBV biomarkers were treated with TNF-α antagonist.The liver function and reactivation of HBV were monitored before and after anti-TNF-α therapy.Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance on ranks of continuous variables and x2 test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables among 3 or more groups.Results Fifty patients were enrolled with 3 to 23 months of follow-up visit.The level of transaminases in chronic HBV infection group [n=11,AST (36±18) U/L,ALT (44±46) U/L] were significantly higher than that in past HBV exposure group [n=16,AST (22±6) U/L,ALT (17±9) U/L] or free of HBV infection group [n=23,AST (19±6) U/L,ALT (15±9) U/L](AST:x2=11.161,P＜0.01,ALT:x2=8.038,P＜0.01).One patient with elevated baseline HBV-DNA load was treated concomitantly with lamivudine and anti-TNF-α therapy,and the HBV-DNA load reduced about to normal 4 months later.Among the other 10 patients with normal baseline HBV-DNA load in chronic HBV infection group,one patient showed reactivation of HBV with elevated transaminases after anti-TNF-α therapy; another patient had only elevated transaminases without reactivation of HBV,and the transaminases returned to normal after withdrawal of antiTNF-α therapy,which suggested drug-induced liver injury.All patients in both past HBV exposure group and free of HBV infection group remained HBsAg negative after the therapy.Conclusion Patients with inflammatory arthropathy should be screened for HBV infection and check liver function before anti-TNF-α therapy,and carefully monitor the reactivation of HBV and liver function during treatment.Patients with concurrent chronic HBV infection should be treated conco-mitantly with anti-virus and anti-TNF-α therapy if they have elevated baseline HBV-DNA load (＞105 copies/ml,in particular) and good economic situation.