Objective To study effects of diabetic nephropathy on plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods Serum BNP levels and suspected influential factors(including age,sex,blood pressure,body mass index,HbA1c,blood lipid,renal function)were investigated in 77 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Results Serum BNP was significantly different[(6.7?8.5)ng/L,(13.2?13.1)ng/L,(62.7?71.6)ng/L,P

Objective: To study the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) analogues on kidney function and kidney ultrastructure in type 2 diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-eight SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into control groups (normal control group and diabetic control group) and GLP-1 analogues Exenatide intervention groups(normal intervention group and diabetic intervention group). The effects of Exenatide intervention on glucose, lipid metabolism, kidney function and kidney ultrastructure were observed. Results: Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity index, insulin resistance index, lipid profile, 24-hours microalbuminuria, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen of Exenatide intervention group were much better than those of corresponding control groups. Through electron microscopy, glomerular mesangial cell in diabetic control group proliferated, basement membrane thickened, while glomerular mesangial cell in diabetic intervention group did not proliferate, basement membrane mildly thickened. Conclusion: GLP-1 analogues can improve kidney function of diabetic rats. Maybe it is connected with improving kidney ultrastructure.

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of compound acanthopanax senticosus injection (CASI) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmia in rats.

METHODThe myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model was induced by 30 min coronary occulusion and 60 min reperfusion in openchest anesthetized rats. The changes of arrhythmia with electrocardiogram lead II, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Ca2+ in myocardium were determined.

RESULTIn rats treated by CASI (in a dosage of 25, 50 and 100 mg x kg(-1) femoral vein infusion at 30 min after coronary occulusion), the incidence of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion ventricular arrhythmias, for instance the ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (Vf), was effectively prevented, the appearing time of arrhythmia was delayed and the duration of arrhythmia was shortened, while the elevated ST segment lowered as well. At the same time, the contents of myocardial Ca2+ and MDA were decreased significantly as well as the activities of myocardial SOD and GSH-Px increased markedly.

CONCLUSIONCASI is of protective effect on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmia, which may be related to scavenging the oxygen free radicals and Ca2+ overload formed during reperfusion.

Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Electrocardiography ; Eleutherococcus ; chemistry ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the chronic stress rats.

METHODRats were exposed to different ways of chronic stress. Body weight and behaviors were investigated during the whole procedure, the CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by the RT-PCR method.

RESULTIn comparision with the normal group, rats exposed to chronic stress showed decreased body weight and a significant reduction of consumption of sucrose solution, and the duration of immobility during the forced swimming test was increased significantly. The chronic stress rats was in depression of behavior. CRHmRNA expression in the brain of the chronic stress rats was upregulated significantly, while it was downregulated in the groups of Baisong tablet and the group of fluoxetin.

CONCLUSIONBaisong tablet has the effect of antidepressant, and it may be related to the effect of the downregulated CRHmRNA expression in brain.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Tablets ; Tribulus ; chemistry

Aim To study the effect of Guben Yanling pills on liver aging in aging mice and the related mech-anism.Methods The mice were randomly divided in-to blank control group,model group,vitamin E group(0.1 g·kg-1)and low,medium and high dose groups(0.59,1.17,2.34 g·kg-1)of Guben Yan-ling pills.The aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(150 mg·kg-1)into the back of neck.At the same time of mod-eling,the corresponding drugs were given by gavage once a day for six weeks.The main organ indexes were calculated.HE staining was used to observe the mor-phology of liver tissue.Colorimetry was used to detect the activity of β-galactosidase in liver.ELISA was used to detect the content of TNF-α,IL-1 β,IL-6,IL-4,IL-10.Western blot was used to detect the protein relative expression level of IKKβ,Iκ Bα,NF-κB p65.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression level of NF-κB p65.Results Compared with the blank control group,the organ index of the brain,liv-er,kidney,spleen,and thymus in the model group decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),the activity of β-galactosidase increased(P＜0.01),liver tissue mor-phology and structure were significantly damaged,the content of TNF-α,IL-1 β and IL-6 increased(P＜0.01),the content of IL-4 and IL-10 decreased(P＜0.01),the levels of IKKβ,NF-κB p65 in-creased(P＜0.01),the levels of IKBα decreased(P＜0.01),and the levels of NF-κB p65 in nucleus increased(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the organ indexes of brain,liver,kidney,spleen,and thymus in each dose group of Guben Yan-ling pills increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),the activity of β-galactosidase decreased(P＜0.01),the morpho-logical and structural damage of liver tissue was signifi-cantly improved,the content of TNF-α,IL-1 β and IL-6 decreased(P＜0.01),the content of IL-4 and IL-10 increased(P＜0.01),the levels of IKKβ,NF-κB p65 decreased(P＜0.01),the levels of IκBα in-creased(P＜0.01),and the levels of NF-κB p65 in nucleus decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Guben Yanling pills can antagonize liver aging in mice,and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the activa-tion of NF-κB signaling pathway in liver,downregulat-ing downstream pro-inflammatory factor levels,upregu-lating anti-inflammatory factor levels,and alleviating inflammation in liver.

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of primary HIV drug resistance in antiretroviral therapy (ART) areas of Henan province.

METHODSA total of 121 drug-naive long-term infected individuals and 154 patients with newly diagnosed from January 2011 to March 2012 were recruited, the questionnaires were surveyed and whole blood were collected to analyze the CD4(+)T cell counts and viral load. In-house method for genotypic resistance test was determined in those with viral load > 1000 copies/ml samples, the differences of demographic characteristics, immunological parameters and primary drug resistance were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 121 cases of long-term individuals who had infected (12.50 ± 3.21) years were mainly previous paid blood donors, and the age was (46.61 ± 9.32) years old. The infection route of the newly diagnosed were diversity, including blood, sexual transmission and others, the cases were 73, 73, 8, respectively, the confirmatory year was (0.91 ± 0.28) years, and average age was (22.21 ± 3.11) years old. The difference were statistically significant in the route of transmission, age and infection time from demographic analysis of the two groups (P < 0.05). The absolute M(P(25)-P(75)) counts of CD4(+)T lymphocytes of long-term group was 322 (217 - 422) cell/µl, which was lower than the newly diagnosed was 434(308 - 578) cell/µl (P < 0.05), and viral load was 4.0 (2.96 - 4.64) copies/ml, 3.77 (2.94 - 4.53) copies/ml, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The prevalence of primary drug resistance in long-term group and newly diagnosed was 5.79% (7/121), 9.09% (14/154), respectively, and the difference was statistically different (P < 0.05), and one PI-resistant strain was found in the newly diagnosed group.

CONCLUSIONThe primary drug resistant strains in untreated patients were found in Henan province of ART areas, and there was difference in degree of resistance between long-term infected individuals and newly diagnosed.

Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Young Adult

Ras is best known for its ability to regulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Mutations in Ras are associated with the abnormal cell proliferation which can result in incidence of all human cancers. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a downstream effector of Ras and plays important roles in prognosis of tumors. Recently, evidence has gradually accumulated to demonstrate that there are other effectors between Ras and ERK, these proteins interact each other and constitute the thorough Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The pathway has profound effects on incidence of esophageal carcinoma and clinical applications of some chemotherapeutic drugs targeting the pathway. Further understanding of the relevant molecular mechanisms of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway can be helpful for the development of efficient targeting therapeutic approaches which contribute to the treatment of esophageal cancer. In this article, roles of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in esophageal carcinoma as well as pharmacological targeting point in the pathway are reviewed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; ras Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the expression of MAP2K4 and vimentin in human endometrial carcinoma (EC) and their association with the clinicopathological features and prognosis of the patients.

METHODSMAP2K4 and vimentin expressions were detected immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 128 patients with EC, and the correlation of MAP2K4 and vimentin expressions with the clinicopathological factors of the patients was analyzed.

RESULTSMAP2K4 and vimentin proteins were positively expressed in 49 (38.3%) and 83 (64.8%) of the patients, respectively. A positive expression of MAP2K4 was negatively correlated with FIGO stage of the tumor (P=0.010) and lymph node status (P=0.016); a positive expression of vimentin was positively correlated with FIGO stage of the tumor (P=0.025), histological grades (P=0.017), depth of myometrial invasion (P=0.044) and lymph node status (P=0.032). MAP2K4 was inversely associated with vimentin expression in EC(r=-0.598, P<0.001). Patients positive for MAP2K4 tended to have a higher overall survival rate (P=0.002), and those positive for vimentin tended to have a lower overall survival rate (P=0.007); patients positive for MAP2K4 but negative for vimentin had the longest survival time, while those negative for MAP2K4 and positive for vimentin had lowest survival rate (P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONDetection of MAP2K4 and vimentin might help in early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of patients with EC.

Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To clarify the genetic characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) circulated in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhengzhou,Henan and to analyze its relationship with HIV-1 prevailing in the paid blood donors (PBDs).Methods Thirty-one MSM who were confirmed as HIV positive individuals in 2010 together with 41 HIV-positive former PBDs were enrolled in the study.Information on related epidemiological characteristics and their plasma were collected.RT-PCR was used to amplify HIV-1 full length gag (1584 bp),pol (3147 bp) genes and partial env gene (C2V3 segment,558 bp) followed by sequencing on those subjects.Online software available at LosAlamos HIV Database was used to identify the HIV subtypes based on the findings of the sequences.Phylogenetic tree was used to identify thc possible relationship of transmission.Results Fifty-three full length gag,38 full length pol and 48 partial env (C2V3) genes were collected from 72 participants.Among the 31 HIV ( + )MSM individuals,14 CRF01_AE strains,5 CRF07BC_ strains and 12 subiype B ( 1 subtype B and 11B' ) strains were identified respectively.All of the 41 strains identified from former PBDs were infected by B' strains.The CRF01_AE strains identified in MSM showed a close relationship to those identified from both Hebei and Liaoning provinces.The CRF07 BC strains showed a close relationship with those from Shijiazhuang and Beijing cities.Among the 12 subtype B strains,8 sequences grouped into 1 cluster with 1 sequence from the former PBDs.Two sequences grouped with 02HNseq4 suggested that B' had been prevailed in the MSM population might come from the former PBDs and were closely related to the strains identified in the MSM population.Conclusion Complicated genetic background and multiple introductions of HIV in the MS population in Zhengzhou,were found.This was also the first report which noticed that the subtype B epidemic among Zhengzhou MSM was mainly originated from the B' among the former PBDs.