Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

The medium of photo-synthetic bacteria synthesizing carotenoid was optimized with response surface methodology. The regression equation expressing the relationship between carotenoid yield and main components of culture medium was established by stepwise analysis. The R-squared in the model of regression equation was 0. 958, which meant the established equation could predict the carotenoid yield well at the range of factors in this design. It was indicated that the optimum medium components were: 0. 81% citric acid, 0. 35% NH4Cl and 0. 18% corn syrup. On those conditions, it was predicted that the highest production of carotenoid was 13. 34 mg/L, which was 2. 04 times higher than initial carotenoid yield before optimization.

Objective To observe the influence of silymarin on expressions of transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) and collagen type Ⅲ(Col Ⅲ) in rats with experimental tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF) induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO).Methods Se-venty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:sham operation group(n=24),model group(n=24) and silymarin treatment group(n=24).The rats in model group and treatment group were operated by ligation of left-ureter.The rats in sham opera-tion group operated by dissociating left-ureter were taken as controls.Rats in treatment group were fed with silymarin [30 mg/(kg?d)]24 h before operation,and rats in model group and sham operation group were treated by intragastric administration with the same volume nomal saline at the same time.Eight rats were killed at day 7,14,and 21,respectively.The score of TIF changes,histologically,was evaluated under light microscope.Expressions of TGF-?1 and Col Ⅲ in tubulointerstitial tissue in 3 groups were investigated by immunohistochemistry.Results 1.The TIF pathological index in treatment group was less than that in model group,but more than sham operation group at day 14 and 21(Pa

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)on children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome(SDNS).Methods Sixteen children with SDNS,diagnosed at onset,included 12 males and 4 females,aged(5.0?1.6) years,were administrated with MMF[25 mg/(kg?d)] and low-dose prednisone[0.5-1.0 mg/(kg?d),average 0.67 mg/(kg?d)].MMF was reduced to half of initial dosage after 6 months and maintained for 3 months,while dosage of prednisone was tapered gradually based on patients disease profile.Twenty-four hours urinary protein excretion,serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen,liver function were conducted regularly,respectively.The clinical efficacy and safety were assessed after 3 months treatment.Results Thirteen of 16 patients treated with MMF and prednisone remained in complete remission.Three children remained remission partly.Difference markedly was observed in 24 hours urinary protein excretion and serum albumin before and after treatment.Conclusions MMF is an effective and safe immunosuppressive agent for children with SDNS.

The study aims to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from 5 manufacturers. By testing molecular mass and trypsin-digested peptide mass mapping, the amino acid sequence was verified and post-translational modifications such as disulfide bond were identified. Results show that the molecular mass and amino acid sequence were consistent with theory; the disulfide bonds of 4 lots of interferon were Cys1-Cys98/Cys29-Cys138, 1 lot was Cys29-Cys139/Cys86-Cys99; N-terminal "+Met", acetyl N-terminal and Met oxidation were identified in part of the sample. UPLC-MS can be used to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from different manufacturers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Interferons ; standards ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peptide Mapping ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Reference Standards

In the heart, stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors (betaAR) serves as the most powerful means to increase cardiac contractility and relaxation in response to stress or a "fight-or-flight" situation. However, sustained beta-adrenergic stimulation promotes pathological cardiac remodeling such as myocyte hypertrophy, apoptosis and necrosis, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure. Over the past decade, compelling evidence has demonstrated that coexisting cardiac betaAR subtypes, mainly beta(1)AR and beta (2)AR, activate markedly different signaling cascades. As a result, acute beta(1)AR stimulation activates the G(s) -adenylyl cyclase-cAMP-PKA signaling that can broadcast throughout the cell, whereas beta(2)AR-evoked cAMP signaling is spatially and functionally compartmentalized, due to concurrent G(i) activation. Chronic stimulation of beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR elicits opposing effects on the fate of cardiomyocytes: beta(1)AR induces hypertrophy and apoptosis; but beta(2)AR promotes cell survival. The cardiac protective effect of beta(2)AR is mediated by a signaling pathway sequentially involving G(i), G(betagamma), PI3K and Akt. Unexpectedly, beta(1)AR-induced myocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis are independent of the classic cAMP/PKA pathway, but require activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMK II). The outcomes of cardiac-specific transgenic overexpression of either beta AR subtype in mice have reinforced the fundamentally different functional roles of these betaAR subtypes in governing cardiac remodeling and performance. These new insights regarding betaAR subtype stimulation not only provide clues as to cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of beta AR blockers in patients with chronic heart failure, but also delineate rationale for combining selective beta(1)AR blockade with moderate beta(2)AR activation as a potential novel therapy for the treatment of chronic heart failure.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Heart ; physiology ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; classification ; physiology ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 ; physiology ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Objective To investigate children′s myelodysplastic hematopoietic cells reaction to interleukin (IL)-15.Methods CD 34 + cells in bone marrow from 18 myelodysplast syndrome(MDS) patients were purified by an immunomagnetic beads sorting system. Apoptosis of hematopoietic precursors was assayed by propidium iodine staining and flow cytometric analysis.Results On 8th cultured day,when IL-15 concentration was between 0-100 ng/ml,it could suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients in a dose-and- time dependent manner. IL-15 in study group significanthy lower than that of control group.Conclusion IL-15 may partly suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients.

BACKGROUNDTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is more complex than the normal hip, with large replacement risks and many complications. Although nonosteotomy THA is convenient to perform, femoral osteotomy shortening can avoid blood vessel and nerve traction injuries. This study aimed to compare osteotomy THA with nonosteotomy to determine reasonable options for operative management of DDH.

METHODSData on 48 DDH patients who underwent THA were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A 29 cases (nonosteotomy), and group B 19 cases (osteotomy). Harris and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, limb length discrepancy (LLD), radiological data on the hip, and claudication were evaluated. Data were analyzed by using paired-sample Student's t-test, independent-sample Student's t-test, and Pearson's Chi-square test; the test level was α =0.05.

RESULTSPostoperative Harris (90.7 ± 5.1) and WOMAC scores (88.0 ± 10.6) were significantly improved compared with preoperative Harris (44.8 ± 5.7) and WOMAC scores (42.0 ± 5.3) in group A (P < 0.05). Postoperative Harris (90.4 ± 2.8) and WOMAC scores (88.2 ± 5.9) were significantly improved compared with preoperative Harris (44.4 ± 4.2) and WOMAC scores (43.2 ± 4.3) in group B (P < 0.05). One case of dislocation occurred in group A; after closed reduction, dislocation did not recur. In group A, 2 patients developed cutaneous branch injury of the femoral nerve, which spontaneously recovered without treatment. Postoperative LLD >2 cm was seen in one case in group A and five cases in group B. Postoperative claudication showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). No patients developed infection; postoperative X-rays showed that the location of the prosthesis was satisfactory, and the surrounding bone was not dissolved.

CONCLUSIONSTHA is effective and safe for DDH. For unilateral high dislocation DDH patients with limb lengthening ≤4 cm and good tissue conditions, THA without femoral osteotomy may be considered.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Synaptic plasticity of barrel cortex is one of the most widely studied topics in neuroscience in recent years. The primary somatosensory cortex of the rodent has a good topology character,which provides an ideal experimental model for plasticity study. This system displays very strong experience-dependent plasticity both during development and in adulthood. The changes of sensory cortex's neural circuit can induce experience-dependent plasticity. In the synaptic level,thalamocortical synapse is considered to be the main location of plasticity. In the circuit level,both synapses from layer 4 to layer 2/3 and those within layer 2/3 are also the necessary parts of achieving synaptic plasticity in primary somatosensory cortex. The GABAergic inhibitory circuit may be involved in this plasticity of S1, but the exact mechanism remains unknown.
Animals ; Neural Pathways ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Somatosensory Cortex ; physiology ; Synapses ; physiology ; Thalamus ; physiology ; Vibrissae ; physiology

Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is an important metabolism regulator, however, whether FGF-21 has effects on cardiovascular remains unclear. In this study, H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells was used as a cell model, the anti-apoptosis potential and mechanism of FGF-21 against oxidative injury were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry assay and real-time PCR. The results showed that FGF-21 could increase the cell survival of H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cells and prevent H9c2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, FGF-21 can elevate SOD activity and regulate Bcl-2/Bax expression in H9c2 cells. The results suggest that FGF-21 have protective effect against the H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism