Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Female ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is a critical member of C/EBP family.C/EBPβ,based on the leucine zipper located in C terminal of the protein,can regulate transcriptional activities of downstream target genes involved in diverse cellular processes,such as proliferation and differentiation.Recently published studies have identified that C/EBPβ is essential in the decidualization of endometrial stromal cells.This review summarizes the roles and mechanisms of C/EBPβ during the courses of decidualization,which is aimed at providing novel insights for dysfunctional decidualization.

BACKGROUND: To determine the non-or collapsed osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and degree of collapse, can help surgeons design reasonable treatment strategy for patients with ONFH. In China, articular cartilage collapse less than or greater than 2 mm, is a basis for choosing palliative surgery or hip replacement. However, the measurement of collapsed ONFH before replacement has not yet been confirmed. OBJECTIVE: To predict the collapse of femoral head before replacement by CT and X-ray examinations, and to compare with the intraoperative excised femoral head specimens.METHODS: This was a single-center, open-label and diagnostic trial, which was finished at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. Eighty-six patients with unilateral ONFH undergoing total hip replacement were recruited, and allocated into three groups, such as X-ray, CT and specimen groups. The X-ray group underwent X-ray examination at anteroposterior pelvic (bilateral hips) at 1 week before surgery, the CT group received CT scan at bilateral hips at 1 week before surgery, and the specimen group was subjected to the removal of affected femoral head, and then directly measured using ruler and vernier caliper. Primary outcome was the sensitivity of thesethree methods for measuring collapsed femoral head. Secondary outcomes were the specificity, positive predictive value,negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of these three methods for the diagnosisof collapsed femoral head and the diagnostic accuracy; the diagnostic consistence of CT and X-ray examinations; the height of the lateral, middle and external femoral head measured by three methods. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China, and will be performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to the trial. DISCUSSION: In this study, the height of femoral head was measured and analyzed in all-dimensional and multi-anglemanner based on intraoperative removed specimens, so as to make an accurate prediction for collapsed femoral head, thus providing imaging reference for surgeons prior to choosing an appropriate operative scheme

ObjectiveTo screen mimetic HIV-1 neutralizing epitopes from plasma with high level neutralizing antibody,and to provide useful information for further study of the interaction between antigen and antibody.MethodsIn order to gain neutralizing antibody recognized mimotopes, we detected neutralizing antibodieslevelsof 11HIV-1infectedslowprogressorsbyPBMC-basedneutralization assays.High-titer HIV-neutralizing antibodies from plasma of SPs was used as the ligand for biopanning by phage-displayed random peptide library.Positive phage clones was evaluated by ELISA,sequenced,and analyzed for homology to HIV-1 env by local BLAST to deduce the neutralizing peptide.ResultsTwenty-two clones were obtained consistent with requirement through three rounds biopanning.After comparison analysis,twelve clones include C8 were obtained as mimotopes of neutralizing antibody,C40 located in gp41Ⅱ cluster with the highest titer by inhibition ratio may be as neutralizing epitope.Conclusion By the use of IgG antibodies from SPs to screen the phage random polypeptide library,one can acquire multiple phage mimetic peptides of HIV related antigen epitope.(Chin J Lab Med,2012,35:838-842 )

Objective To explore the polymorphism of nef gene and conservation level of functionally important domains of nef as well as their influences on HIV-1 disease progression of HIV-1 B'infected individuals in northern China.Methods 30 long term nonprogressors(LTNPs)and 42 typical progressors (TPs)were selected.Provirus DNA was extracted from whole blood sample.The full nef gene was amplified by nested-PCR.PCR product was sequenced directly after purification.Phylogenetic analysis and amino acid sequence mutation was applied on nef sequences to explore the differences between LTNPs and TPs.Results At position 15,the S15R/K/N substitution was detected.The frequency of TPs(64.29%)wsa higher than LTNPs(33.33%,P<0.01,0R=3.60);R21K/E/H/I.Q,TPs and LTNPs mutation frequency was 59.52%and 93.33%(P<0.005,OR=0.11);At position 39,K39R/E/N was only detected in TPs(23.81%,P<0.005).Conclusion No significant deletion or defect associated with disease progression wsa detected in nef gene of HIV-1 B'.But it suggested that K/E/H/I/Q mutation at 21 st amino acid of nef associated the disease nonprogression.R/K/N at 15 th amino acid of nef and R/E/N mutation at 39th amino acid of nef associated the disease progression in.HIV-1 B'.All domaias of nef amino acids sequences were comparatively conservative.

Objective To investigate the relationship between carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and pulse pressure index (PPI) in elderly hypertensive patients.PPI was defined as 24 h mean pulse pressure(PP)/24 h mean SBP.Methods One hundred and three elderly hypertensive patients were categorized by PPI level:group A (PPI

Objective To explore the significance of combined detection of D-Dimer,cardic troponin I(cTnI)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-ProBNP)in acute coronary syndrome and the correlation between them.Methods 143 patients with acute coronary syndrome were selected as the observation group,and 40 CAG negative people as the control group.The difference between the two groups was compared and the correlation was analyzed.According to different diagnostics,patients in the observa-tion group were separated into 3 groups,unstable angina pectoris,non ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.The correlation of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP with the severity of coronary artery disease was analyzed.Results The levels of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05 ).The severity of coronary artery disease had positive correlation with the test results (P <0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of D-Dimer,cTnI and NT-ProBNP could help to diagnose the acute coronary syndrome and the test result has a positive correlation with the severity of acute coronary syndrome.

Objective To retrospectively analysis and compareabout Bryan artificial cervical disc arthroplasty with ante-rior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) on the clinical efficacy for“Skip”cervical spondylosis. Methods From February 2002 to May 2012, 49 cases were treated with Bryan artificial cervical disc arthroplasty (artificial cervical disc replacement surgery group, 18 cases) or anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF group, 31 cases), 29 males and 20 females. Each case was evaluated at the moment of preoperatively, 3 months, 6 and 12 months and last follow-up after surgery by the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Cervical sagittal curvature, the total cervical spine range of motion(ROM),middle segments of motion. MRI was also used to assess to adjacent segment disc degeneration, spinal cord compression and signal change situation. Results All patients were followed up for more than 24 months. The score of the JOA, NDI, VAS in the two groups of patients improved significantly after surgery than before surgery. In addition, the VAS score in last follow-up were significantly different between the two groups, but other index each time in the two groups showed no significant difference. In last follow-up, the result of artificial cervical disc arthroplasty group were better than ACDF group on the incidence of axial symptoms, the total cervical spine range of motion (ROM) and middle segments of motion. The incidence of axial symptoms in artificial cervical disc arthroplasty group were 11.1%,ACDF group were 45.2%. ROM in arti-ficial cervical disc arthroplasty group were 35.5°±5.9°,ACDF group were 24.5°±6.2°. Middle segments of motion in artificial cer-vical disc arthroplasty group were 7.3°±1.4°,ACDF group were 10.1°±1.6°. The above comparison of the datas were statistically different. There are two cases of adjacent segment degeneration in ACDF group without need to surgery. Conclusion Bryan artifi-cial cervical disc replacement surgery effectively retained the overall motion of the cervical spine, reduced the motion of middle segments, thus avoiding adjacent segment degeneration and the incidence of postoperative axial symptoms.

Objective To investigate the killer cell lg-like receptors (KIR) gene frequency of HIV-1 infected slow progressors(SP) and typical progressors(TP), and to analyze the interaction between KIR alleles and the progression of HIV-1 infection in Chinese population. Methods Eighty-one HIV-1 posi-tive individuals including 43 SPs and 38 TPs were recruited. Carriage of KIR genes was assessed using poly-merase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) assays. Results KIR2DS3 gene frequency was significantly lower in SP group (3.6%) than that in TP group (14.2%), P =0. 018 ,OR =0. 210,95% CI =0.053-0.833. The number of activating KIR genes was less in SP group than that in TP group, but was not significant (P = 0. 208). Conclusion Lower KIR2DS3 gene frequency may potentially be associated with slower progression to AIDS in Chinese population.

OBJECTIVETo study the intercellular communication of alveolar bone during traumatic occlusion at early stage in rats.

METHODSThe occlusal surface of the upper left first molar of rat was raised by placing a stainless steel wire to induce occlusal trauma in the lower left first molar. After 24 hours, the alveolar bone tissues of the lower jaws first molars at the both sides were taken out under anesthesia The various 27 000 genes were identified with genome-wide microarray, and further were investigated with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Pathway analysis.

RESULTSTotal 586 gene were found to be changed, 106 different signal pathways got involved with Pathway analysis, including cell adhesion molecules(CAMS), adhesions junction, gap junction, focal adhesion and tight junction, and the cytokines associated with bone metabolism in above 5 signal pathways were all down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONAt the early phase of the occlusal trauma, intercellular communication in rat's alveolar bone were inhibited.