0.05).Conclusions The serum concentrations of cortisol,GH,IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP3 in children suffered from asthma have no obvious change before and after 24 months long-term inhaled corticosteroids.The height changes before and after therapy have no significant difference between observation group and control group with same age and gender.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the placement of a long tube into the small intestine under fluoroscopic guidance and to evaluate its decompression effect on early postoperative small bowel obstruction (EPSBO).

METHODSFifty-four patients with EPSBO requiring decompression between April 2010 and July 2014 were enrolled in the study. Insertion of a long tube was guided by fluoroscopy. We first used the guide wire to pass the pylorus and then used the 10 Fr feeding tube as an exchangeable tube to put the superstiff wire into the duodenum. Finally the long tube could be passed over the guide wire through the pylorus into the intestine. The total procedure time, the radiation exposure time, and the incidence of complications were evaluated.

RESULTSThe long tubes passed into the jejunum on initial insertion for all patients, so the success rate of this technique was 100%. The long tube was inserted into ileum in 18 patients. The mean total procedure time was 34.4 ± 8.6 minutes, and the mean radiation exposure time 18.9 ± 6.8 minutes. A total of 47 patients (87%) experienced full recovery following long-tube decompression and without the need for surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONSUsing the wire-exchange technique, it is easy to place a long tube into the small bowel under fluoroscopic guidance. This decompression method is safe and effective for management of EPSBO.

Adult ; Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of the A260G and A386G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the DAZL gene with male infertility in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province.

METHODSWe collected the peripheral blood samples from 317 idiopathic infertile males with azoospermia or oligozoospermia and 246 normal fertile men, and genotyped the polymorphic loci of the A260G and A386G polymorphisms of the DAZL gene using the SNaPshot technique.

RESULTSThe DAZL gene A260G was found genetically polymorphic in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province, with the gene frequencies and their distribution consistent to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of the AA, AG and GG genotypes of the A260G polymorphism were 92.3%, 7.3%, and 0.4% respectively in the normal controls and 94.3%, 5.7%, and 0% in the infertile patients, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.43, OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.413-1.46). Heterozygosis (AG) of A386G was found in 1 of the control males but not in the infertile patients, while homozygosis (GG) of A386G was not observed in either group (P = 0.259, OR = 0.698, 59% CI: 0.374-1.306).

CONCLUSIONA260G and A386G SNPs of the DAZL gene are not associated with spermatogenic failure and neither represents a molecular marker for the genetic diagnosis of male infertility in the Chinese population of Zhejiang Province.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Oligospermia ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics

The dynamic changes of germination percentage, germination potential, thousand-seed weight, antioxidase activity in Desmodium styracifolium seeds with different storage time were tested, and electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch in seed leach liquor were also determined in order to reveal the mechanism of seed deterioration. The results as the following. (1) The germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds declined, while the seed coat color darkened with the extension of storage time. (2) The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) decreased with the prolongation of storage period. The SOD activity declined fastest in 1,095-1,185 d of storage, while the POD activity declined significantly in 365-395 d of storage. (3) The electrical conductivity and the contents of soluble sugar, starch in seed leach liquor increased, while the content of soluble protein declined with the extension of storage time. (4) Correlation analysis indicated that the germination percentage, germination potential and thousand-seed weight of D. styracifolium seeds have a significantly positive correlation with SOD and POD activity, while have a significantly negative correlation with the electrical conductivity, contents of soluble sugar and starch. It can be concluded that during the storage of D. styracifolium seeds, physiological and biochemical changes including decrease in antioxidase activity, rise in electrical conductivity, degradation effluent of soluble sugar and starch, degradation of soluble protein were the main factors leading to the seed deterioration.
Color ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Germination ; Peroxidases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry ; enzymology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Starch ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.

METHODSAfter one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.

Animals ; Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatocytes ; Lipids ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Arteriovenous Fistula ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Spinal Cord ; blood supply ; Thoracic Vertebrae

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) powder on renal oxidative stress and mitochondria functions in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to primarily explore its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment group by random digit table, 10 in each group. A chronic kidney disease (CKD) rat model was prepared by one step 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats in the treatment group were intragastrically administered with CS powder solution at the daily dose of 2 g/kg, once per day. Equal volume of double distilled water was intragastrically administered to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. All medication lasted for 12 weeks. The general condition of rats, their body weight, blood pressure, 24 h proteinuria, urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), serum creatinine (SCr) , and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were assessed before surgery, at week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 10 after surgery. Pathological changes of renal tissues were observed under light microscope. Morphological changes of mitochondria in renal tubular epithelial cells were observed under transmission electron microscope. Activities of antioxidant enzymes including reduced glutathione (GSH), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in fresh renal tissue homogenate were detected. Mitochondria of renal tissues were extracted to detect levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS). And expressions of cytochrome-C (Cyto-C) and prohibitin in both mitochondria and cytoplasm of the renal cortex were also measured by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the sham-operation group, body weight was significantly decreased at week 2 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure increased at week 4 (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, body weight was significantly increased at week 12 (P <0. 01), but blood pressure decreased at week 8 (P < 0. 01) in the treatment group. (2) Compared with the sham-operation group, 24 h proteinuria, urinary NAG, blood SCr and BUN significantly increased in the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, blood and urinary biochemical indices all significantly decreased in the treatment group (all P <0. 01). (3) Results of pathological renal scoring: Glomerular sclerosis index, scoring for tubulointerstitial fibrosis, degree of tubulointerstitial inflammatory infiltration were all obviously higher in the model group than in the sham-operation group (all P <0. 01). All the aforesaid indices were more obviously improved in the treatment group than in the model group (all P <0. 01). (4) Compared with the sham-operation group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px were significantly reduced, but MDA contents obviously increased in the renal cortex of the model group (all P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, activities of MnSOD and GSH-Px obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01), but MDA contents obviously decreased in the renal cortex of the treatment group (P <0. 01). (5) Compared with the sham-operation group, the mitochondrial membrane potential significantly decreased, but ROS levels significantly increased in the model group (all P <0.01). Compared with the model group, mitochondrial transmembrane potential increased in the treatment group, thereby inhibiting the tendency of increased production of ROS (both P < 0. 01). (6) Results of Western blot showed that, compared with the sham-operation group, expression levels of mitochondrial Cyto-C and Prohibitin were significantly reduced in the renal cortex (P <0. 01), but significantly elevated in the cytoplasm of the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, each index was obviously improved in the treatment group with statistical difference (P <0. 05, P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONCS powder had renal protection, and its mechanism might partially depend on in- hibition of oxidative stress and protection for mitochondria.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Cordyceps ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney Diseases ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; Nephrectomy ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Proteinuria ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the whote plant Biebersteinia heterostemon (Geraniaceae).

METHODThe ethanol extract of the whole plants was separated by various chromatographic methods and the compounds from the extract were identified by spectroscopic evidence including MS, IR, NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

RESULTThree isoprenyl guanidine derivatives were isolated from the whole plant of Biebersteinia heterostemon and identified as galegine (1) , cis-4-hydroxygalegine (2) and trans-4-hydroxygalegine (3).

CONCLUSIONThe three compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Geraniaceae ; chemistry ; Guanidines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; therapy ; Balloon Occlusion ; adverse effects ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; therapy ; Cavernous Sinus ; abnormalities ; Dura Mater ; blood supply ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Arteries ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo analyze the manifestation and investigate the value of MRI in the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (GCTTS).

METHODSTwenty patients with GCTTS proved by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 12 females. The average age was 35.5 years, range from 15 to 61 years. All the patients underwent MRI examination.

RESULTSAmong the 20 cases, 16 patients had the tumor in knee joint, 2 patients had the tumor in interphalangeal articulation of foot and ankle joint respectively. Nineteen patients had limited tumor and 1 patient had diffuse tumor. The soft tissue mass localized beside lower extremity osteoarticulation was displayed on MRI images. On T1WI, the signal intensities of GCTTS almost equaled to those of skeletal muscle in 15 cases and were slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 5 cases. On T2WI, the signal intensities tended to range between those of skeletal muscle and fat in 4 cases, almost equaled to those of skeletal muscle in 13 cases, and were slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 3 cases. In the 16 patients with gadolinium-enhanced images on T1WI, 5 patients showed homogeneous enhancement and 11 patients showed inhomogeneous enhancement. Four patients had adjacent bone destruction.

CONCLUSIONThe location, shape and inner signal characteristic of GCTTS localized beside lower extremity osteoarticulation could be demonstrated clearly by MRI examination, which is valuable for clinical diagnosis, guiding treatment and follow-up visit.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tendons ; pathology