Objective To investigate the value of plasma miR-22 in diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension ( IPAH ),and its role of regulation mechanisms in the pathogenesis of the disease.Methods Circulating miR-22 levels of IPAH patients and healthy controls were evaluated by RTPCR.The silico analysis of targets for miR-22 was taken, and followed by eGFP reporter assay for verification of predicted target gene Myc binding protein (MYCBP). Results Compared with healthy controls,the expression of plasma miR-22 in IPAH patients was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ).The area under curve (AUC) of ROC curve was 0.744.MYCBP was a real target of miR-22 confirmed by silico analysis and eGFP reporter assay. Conclusions The expression of plasma miR-22 was significantly decreased in IPAH patients,and it could serve as a potential biomarker for diagnosis.The miR-22 might be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease through promoting its target gene MYCBP to activate the c-Myc pathway.

BACKGROUND:The mechanism underlying orthodontic-induced external root resorption is not yet clear, and it differs individual y. Kidney deficiency has been proved to be related to bone diseases which mediated by different cytokines. Interleukin-17 is an important cytokine involved in external root resorption. So figuring out whether kidney deficiency and interleukin-17 are related to root resorption wil be helpful for etiological research.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the relationship between kidney deficiency physique, interleukin-17 and root resorption during orthodontic treatment in rats.
METHODS:Thirty-six Wistar rats were selected and equivalently randomized into two groups, fol owed by modeled into kidney deficiency (kidney deficiency group) or injected with normal saline (control group), respectively. Afterwards, the right maxil ary of each rat served as an orthodontic force model, and the left maxil ary as a non-orthodontic force model. Al rats were respectively sacrificed under general anesthesia at the 3, 7 and 14 days after given orthodontic force. Then, the mesial surface of the root of maxil ary first molars and the expression level of interleukin-17 were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Histological observation showed that significantly increasing root resorption in a time-dependent manner could be observed, and there were various absorbed lacunae of osteoclasts on the enamel in the kidney deficiency orthodontic force group. The alveolar bone resorption and widened periodontal membrane appeared in the control orthodontic force group. While no remarkable root and alveolar bone resorptions were found in the other two non-orthodontic force groups. The expression level of interleukin-17 in the kidney deficiency orthodontic force group was higher than that in the control orthodontic force group;the expression level of interleukin-17 in the kidney deficiency non-orthodontic force group was higher than that in the control non-orthodontic force group. In conclusion, kidney deficiency patients are easy to develop root resorption, the mechanism of which is maybe relevant to the upregulation of interleukin-17.

Tumor necrosis factor(TNF-alpha) plays an improtant role in the process of anti-infection and anti-cancer. It can both protect and make damage to the host. In order to find new way of inhibiting its host-damaging activity, An E. coli flagella displayed random peptide library was constructed and TNF-alpha antagonist peptides were screened using the peptide library. After 5 rounds of panning and DNA sequencing, six peptide sequences were obtained. Two of them(TBP2, TBP3) have the same sequence frame of V--N-WG. After primary comparation of TNF-alpha binding ability, four peptides were synthesised and purified with RP-HPLC. The activity of inhibiting TNF-alpha was detected with L929 cell and MTT method. The data show that TBP2 and TBP3 can inhibit 90% of TNF-alpha activity when TNF-alpha gives about 30% cell toxicity on L929. The two sequences have not been reported.
Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the parenteral administration of various quantities of amino acid in preterm infants.

METHODSPreterm infants (birth weight 1000-2000 g) recruited into the study were randomized into three groups. High amino acid group (HP): 2.4 g/(kg.d) of amino acid IV within 24 hours after birth increasing by increments of 1.2 g/(kg.d) to a maximum of 3.6 g/(kg. d); medium amino acid group (MP): 1.0 g/(kg.d) of amino acid IV 24 hours after birth, increasing by increments of 0.5 g/(kg.d) until a maximum of 3.0 g/(kg.d); and low amino acid group (LP): 0.5 g/(kg.d) of amino acid on D3, increasing by increments of 0.5 g/(kg.d) until a maximum of 3.0 g/(kg.d) as the final dose.

RESULTSTotally 96 preterm infants were recruited: HP 34, MP 32 and LP 30. There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics among the 3 groups. HP group showed lower postnatal weight loss (43.4 g, 95% CI 74.3, 12.6) and weight loss% (2.84%, 95% CI 4.79%, 0.71%) than LP group. HP group showed shorter length of stay in NICU (5.25 d), days to reach 2000 g (7.03 d) and days to tolerate 100 kcal/(kg.d) enteral nutrition (4.52 d) than LP group. Cost of hospitalization was significantly lower in HP group than in LP group (-6275 RMB, 1 US$=8 RMB) and MP group (-5715 RMB). Mean serum RBP (D4), threonine and tyrosine levels were significantly higher in HP group than in LP group. Serum insulin levels were similar; mean serum glucose level was lower in HP group than in LP group. HP infants had lower incidence of sepsis than LP infants (21.9% vs 40.0%). There were no significant differences in the levels of blood ammonia, acid-base balance (as determined by pH and NaHCO3-), BUN, Cr, AST, and ALT.

CONCLUSIONSIntensive and early administration of intravenous amino acid [2.4 g/(kg.d)] improves preterm infants' growth and the tolerance of enteral feeding. It also reduces the cost of hospitalization, and the incidence of sepsis.

Amino Acids ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Parenteral Nutrition

OBJECTIVETo research the application and clinical effect of titanium elastic nails (TEN) for the treatment of closed clavicular fracture in elder children.

METHODSFrom October 2010 to December 2012,16 elderly children with clavicular fracture of elder children were treated with internal fixation, including 9 boys and 7 girls with an average age of 14.2 yeats old ranging from 9 to 17 years. The mean time between injury and surgery was 2 to 6 days. Thirteen patients had a transverse fractures; 3 patients had a oblique fractures, excluding the long-oblique patients. Neer function score after 3 months follow-up and the shoulder activity degree after 3 weeks followed were compared respectively between the injured side and healthy side. Fracture reduction and healing were followed up by X-rays to analyze internal fixation with TEN technique.

RESULTSAll patients were healed well after surgery. There were 2 cases with soft tissue irritation. No cases of infection, TEN broken, delayed healing or skin bursting were observed. All patients were followed up for 3 to 10 months,with an average of 7.2 months. There were no significant differences (t=2.12, P>0.05) between the healthy side (98.75±2.70) and injured side(96.69±6.22)of Neer score at 3 months during followed up. The shoulder activity at 3 weeks during followed up was different between both sides (P<0.05). The intramedullary nail was removed after X-rays at 12-18 weeks during followed up showed good bone healing,and the shoulder function was recovered well.

CONCLUSIONInternal fixation with TEN for the treatment of clavicular fracture has advantages of a limited invasion, beauty, safety and reliability. This technique provides an ideal fixation option for the treatment of clavicular fracture in elder children.

Adolescent ; Bone Nails ; Child ; Clavicle ; injuries ; surgery ; Elasticity ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Titanium

Objective To analyze variations of hepatic vein in healthy people with 64-slice spiral CT.Methods Seventy-five healthy subjects underwent multi-slice spiral computed(MSCT)hepatic venography.The anatomy of the junction of the hepatic veins with the inferior vena cava and the intrahepatic drainage territory of the hepatic veins and tributaries were evaluated.The hepatic veins were classified according to three anatomic classification(Nakamura's,Marcos's and Kawasaki's classification)methods respectively.Results There was a common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins before joining the IVC in 86.7%(65/75)of the cases.In 13.3%(10/75)of the cases,the three main hepatic veins joined the IVC separately.The ratios of Nakamura's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 49.4% (37/75),37.3%(28/75),and 13.3%(10/75)respectively.The ratios of Marcos's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 56.0%(42/75),24.0%(18/75),and 20.0%(15/75)respectively. The ratios of Kawasaki's classification type Ⅰ,Ⅱ of hepatic vein were 40.0%(30/75)and 60.0% (45/75).Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT hepatic venography can provide visualization of peripheral hepatic venous branches in details.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of apple polyphenols extract (APE) in Triton WR-1339-induced endogenous hyperlipidemic model.

METHODSFirstly, APE was isolated and purified from the pomace of Red Fuji Apple and contents of individual polyphenols in APE were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Secondly, forty male National Institude of Health (NIH) mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 8 animals in each group. The Fenofibrate Capsules (FC) group and APE groups received oral administration of respective drugs for 7 consecutive days. All mice except those in the normal group were intravenously injected through tail vein with Triton WR-1339 on the 6th day. Serum and livers from all the mice were obtained 18 h after the injection. The changes in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) were measured by respective kits. Finally, expression of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) mRNA was measured by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS SERUM TC AND TG LEVELS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY REDUCED THE SERUM LEVEL OF TG IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.01). SERUM LPL AND HTGL ACTIVITIES SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED IN TRITON WR-1339-INDUCED MODEL GROUP COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP (P<0.05). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE SERUM ACTIVITY OF LPL IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01). FURTHERMORE, COMPARED WITH THE NORMAL GROUP, HEPATIC MRNA LEVEL OF PPARα IN THE MODEL GROUP SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED (P<0.01). ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF APE [200 AND 400 MG/(KG DAY)] DOSE-DEPENDENTLY ELEVATED THE EXPRESSION OF PPARα IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MICE (P<0.05 OR P<0.01):

CONCLUSIONAPE could reduce TG level via up-regulation of LPL activity, which provides new evidence to elucidate the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of APE.

Animals ; Chlorogenic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; PPAR alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tannins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

The Tagsk1 (Triticum asetium L. glycogen synthase kinase 1) gene derived from the genome of wheat salt-tolerance mutant RH8706-49 was cloned by PCR. The special primers designed according to full length cDNA sequence of Tagsk1 (AF525086). A binary expression vector pBI121-gsk1 containing Gus and Tagsk1 was constructed. And pBI121-gsk1 was introduced into the callus induced from mature embryos of salt-sensitive wheat H8706-34 and cv. China Spring by particle bombardment. The transformed callus were screened by Kanamycin and 0.5% NaCl. The salt-tolerance callus were obtained, which showed higher ability of salt-tolerance and could diffirentiate roots and buds on the medium containing 0.5% NaCl.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Biolistics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Glycogen Synthase Kinases ; genetics ; Mutation ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Salt-Tolerant Plants ; genetics ; Seeds ; genetics ; Sodium Chloride ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic ; Triticum ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiology

In order to find a new TPO-mimic peptide with similar activity to TPO while reducing the side effects, a TPO-mimic peptide (P1) screened from a random peptide library was restructured. The new structure of the TPO mimic peptide (P2) was synthesized. After coupling P2 with Dextran 10 and performing intermolecular oxidation, dextran-coupled and dimerized form of P2 were obtained, naming D-P2 and (P2)(2) respectively. The activities of the peptides in vitro were measured with MTT method. The results showed that the EC50 of P2 was 20 nmol/L, 700 times higher than P1. The EC50 of D-P2 and (P2)(2) were 0.35 nmol/L and 0.14 nmol/L, respectively. After administrating to the mouse, the peptides increased the number of platelets in the blood circulation obviously without influence on other blood cells. In conclusion, the TPO-mimic peptides have prospects in treating diseases related with thrombocytopenia.
Animals ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Platelet Count ; Thrombopoietin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of male reproductive health among middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory results of 884 middle-aged and older men aged 55 - 89 years from the Xuanwu District of Nanjing present for routine physical examinations, including those of blood routine tests, liver and kidney function, blood glucose, blood lipid, and total prostate specific antigen (TPSA), as well as such reproductive hormone indexes as total serum testosterone (TT), free serum testosterone (fT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). We also obtained the above reproductive hormone indexes from 119 young and middle-aged men aged 20 - 39 years as controls.

RESULTSAging-related changes were found in the 50 percentiles of all the reproductive hormones and relevant parameters but those of TT and E2, with gradual increases in LH, FSH and SHBG and decreases in fT, TSI and fTI. Comparison of reproductive hormones and relevant parameters by Mann-Whitney U test did not show any statistically significant differences in the TT level between any two of the five age groups (20 - 39, 55 - 59, 60 - 69, 70 - 79, and > or = 80 yr) (P > 0.05) except between the control and > or = 80 yr groups and the 60 - 69 and > or = 80 yr groups (P < 0.05), nor in the E2 level between any two groups, nor in the levels of LH and FSH except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups and the 70 - 79 and > or = 80 yr groups, and nor in the levels of fT and TSI except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups. However, there were significant differences in the levels of SHBG and fTI between any two age groups. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that fT, TSI, and fTI were correlated negatively with aging and LH (P < 0.05, I r I > 0.5) but weakly positively with cholesterol, blood glucose and hemoglobin (P < 0.05, /r/ < 0.5), SHBG and LH positively with aging, SHBG weakly negatively with blood glucose and hemoglobin, LH weakly negatively with hemoglobin, and TT weakly negatively with aging but positively with hemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum testosterone, particularly that of fT, declined with aging in middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing, which may contribute to abnormal lipid metabolism, low hemoglobin and high blood glucose.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; analysis ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Testosterone ; blood